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For one final time, Matt Dillon will lead the St. Edmond football team into action here Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Gaels host ninth-ranked (eight-player) Kingsley-Pierson beginning at 7 p.m.
Dillon, in his ninth and final season as head coach for St. Edmond (3-4 overall, 3-2 in the district), owns a record of 36-38 with the program and 223 career wins in 40-plus years on the sidelines. That includes back-to-back state titles with Dowling in 2000 and 2001.
"It's definitely a surreal feeling," Dillon said. "After 45 years of doing something that you love, you'll no longer be doing it.
"First and foremost, though, we have a game to worry about. All that other stuff, I can worry about it after the game."
Last week, the Gaels got back in the win column with a commanding 62-14 victory over Harris-Lake Park. Matthew Crimmins ran for 247 yards and scored three touchdowns, Thomas Ehn had four passing touchdowns on five completions, and Ty Mericle caught three passes for 90 yards and three TDs.
This year, Ehn – a junior – has thrown for 1,273 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding three rushing scores. Crimmins, also a junior, has 573 yards rushing and four TDs, with freshman Gavin McClain adding 118 and a score.
Mericle, a senior, has 35 receptions for 514 yards and 11 scores, with classmate Griffin Laufersweiler recording 31 receptions for 380 and four TDs.
"It hasn't been an easy season with the injuries we've had to overcome," Dillon said. "But there have been many positives. Thomas has had a terrific year, Ty and Griffin have been great, and Matthew has come back strong.
"I just wish we could have put the team out there on the field that we thought we would have in the preseason."
Ehn, in his first season as the starter, is tied for third in the state in passing touchdowns. Mericle is tied for fifth in receiving TDs.
Senior Jacob Nieland anchors the SEHS defense with 34 tackles, including 14.5 for loss and two sacks. McClain has 31 tackles, junior Jack Webster 26 and Mericle 22.
Kingsley-Pierson (6-1, 5-0) has clinched the district title thanks to a 36-34 decision over Remsen St. Mary's three weeks ago. The Panthers are led by sophomore Eli Schroeder, who has 882 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 353 yards rushing and four scores.
Darius Rasmussen has 494 yards on the ground and five TDs while Wyatt Klaschen has a team-leading 14 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. Sam Doeschot has caught 24 passes for 445 yards and nine TDs.
Last year, St. Edmond posted a 24-20 victory over Kingsley-Pierson to secure the runner-up spot in the district race.