Post by cavfan on Apr 4, 2009 15:13:52 GMT -5
By JACK NOWLIN
Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, April 4, 2009 2:06 AM MDT
Tony Dill spent 10 years waiting for Friday.
Though he's only a rookie, no other person on the Wyoming roster -- including coach Dan Maciejczak -- has likely been to more Cavalry games.
And it's doubtful that anyone was as excited when the Cavalry ran onto the field at the Casper Events Center for Friday night's American Indoor Football Association game against the Ogden Knights.
"I've been watching this team since I was in eighth grade," Dill said earlier this week. "So for me to be playing [for the Cavs] means a lot."
Dill, an all-state linebacker for Natrona County's undefeated state championship team in 2003, had dreamed of playing for the Cavs ever since his dad took him to his first game in 2000.
Dill's father, Bob, operated the sound system for Cavalry home games for the organization's first six years (He also served as a sub on the operating board during Friday's game).
The fact that he gets to watch his son play is an added bonus.
"It's exciting for me to know that Tony is living his dream," Bob Dill said. "I know he always wanted to play on the [Events Center] field. I'm just proud of him."
While most kids who play football dream of someday making it to the NFL, Dill was more realistic. After all, the NFL was an unlikely landing place for a kid who topped the scales at 115 pounds and played lightweight football in junior high school.
Dill, however, never stopped working. And when his size eventually matched his desire, Dill proved to be a force on the football field. He's now listed on the Cavs roster as 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
"He proved that there are spots in this game for little guys with big hearts," NC football coach Steve Harshman said.
Dill earned all-conference honors as a defensive back during his senior year at Black Hills State and was also the NAIA player of the week during his junior year for intercepting four passes in one game.
Last week against Ogden, his third-quarter interception helped the Cavs (2-0) pull away in the second half.
All of which set the scene for Friday's rematch against Ogden.
"You always dream of making it in the NFL," Dill said. "But you realize that only a small percentage of guys make it from big colleges, let alone a tiny school in South Dakota or a small town like Casper.
"So this is probably what I'm looking at. This is good for me. This was a goal in itself. I'm just happy to be a part of the team."
Dill is more than that, though.
In just two games, he has developed into one of the hardest hitters and fastest players in the Cavs' secondary.
"He loves to bang people," Maciejczak said. "He's a kid that will knock you out first and then go for the pick."
Above all, Dill's rise from an undersized eighth-grader to a starter for the AIFA's defending Western Conference champions provides hope for other kids who are willing to work hard to realize their dreams.
"Tony is one of those kids that [the NC football coaches] have used as motivation for years," Harshman said. "He wasn't the biggest kid by any means, but he had the most heart."
And Friday night, he made a dream come true.
WYOMING 77, OGDEN 33: Matt Strand threw for seven touchdowns and James Jones ran for two and caught a third as the Cavalry won their home opener to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Five of Strand's scoring strikes came on the first play of Wyoming drives, including a 30-yard toss to A. J. Street on the opening play of the third quarter. Jones followed with a scoring run for the two-point conversion and Strand booted the ensuing kickoff into the net for an uno to give the Cavs a 45-21 lead.
Austin Bailey then sacked Ogden quarterback Brendon Doyle in the end zone for a safety and the rout was on.
Defensive lineman Tomasi Kongaika scored on a 30-yard run with 5 seconds remaining for the final score.
Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry tracker
FRIDAY: Wyoming 77, Ogden 33.
RECORDS: Knights (0-3); Cavalry (3-0).
HOMETOWN HERO: Cavs defensive back Tony Dill was a starter on Natrona County's unbeaten state championship team in 2003.
HE SAID IT: "I've been watching this team since I was in eighth grade. So for me to be playing [for the Cavs] means a lot." n Dill.
UP NEXT: New Mexico at Wyoming, April 10.
Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, April 4, 2009 2:06 AM MDT
Tony Dill spent 10 years waiting for Friday.
Though he's only a rookie, no other person on the Wyoming roster -- including coach Dan Maciejczak -- has likely been to more Cavalry games.
And it's doubtful that anyone was as excited when the Cavalry ran onto the field at the Casper Events Center for Friday night's American Indoor Football Association game against the Ogden Knights.
"I've been watching this team since I was in eighth grade," Dill said earlier this week. "So for me to be playing [for the Cavs] means a lot."
Dill, an all-state linebacker for Natrona County's undefeated state championship team in 2003, had dreamed of playing for the Cavs ever since his dad took him to his first game in 2000.
Dill's father, Bob, operated the sound system for Cavalry home games for the organization's first six years (He also served as a sub on the operating board during Friday's game).
The fact that he gets to watch his son play is an added bonus.
"It's exciting for me to know that Tony is living his dream," Bob Dill said. "I know he always wanted to play on the [Events Center] field. I'm just proud of him."
While most kids who play football dream of someday making it to the NFL, Dill was more realistic. After all, the NFL was an unlikely landing place for a kid who topped the scales at 115 pounds and played lightweight football in junior high school.
Dill, however, never stopped working. And when his size eventually matched his desire, Dill proved to be a force on the football field. He's now listed on the Cavs roster as 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
"He proved that there are spots in this game for little guys with big hearts," NC football coach Steve Harshman said.
Dill earned all-conference honors as a defensive back during his senior year at Black Hills State and was also the NAIA player of the week during his junior year for intercepting four passes in one game.
Last week against Ogden, his third-quarter interception helped the Cavs (2-0) pull away in the second half.
All of which set the scene for Friday's rematch against Ogden.
"You always dream of making it in the NFL," Dill said. "But you realize that only a small percentage of guys make it from big colleges, let alone a tiny school in South Dakota or a small town like Casper.
"So this is probably what I'm looking at. This is good for me. This was a goal in itself. I'm just happy to be a part of the team."
Dill is more than that, though.
In just two games, he has developed into one of the hardest hitters and fastest players in the Cavs' secondary.
"He loves to bang people," Maciejczak said. "He's a kid that will knock you out first and then go for the pick."
Above all, Dill's rise from an undersized eighth-grader to a starter for the AIFA's defending Western Conference champions provides hope for other kids who are willing to work hard to realize their dreams.
"Tony is one of those kids that [the NC football coaches] have used as motivation for years," Harshman said. "He wasn't the biggest kid by any means, but he had the most heart."
And Friday night, he made a dream come true.
WYOMING 77, OGDEN 33: Matt Strand threw for seven touchdowns and James Jones ran for two and caught a third as the Cavalry won their home opener to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Five of Strand's scoring strikes came on the first play of Wyoming drives, including a 30-yard toss to A. J. Street on the opening play of the third quarter. Jones followed with a scoring run for the two-point conversion and Strand booted the ensuing kickoff into the net for an uno to give the Cavs a 45-21 lead.
Austin Bailey then sacked Ogden quarterback Brendon Doyle in the end zone for a safety and the rout was on.
Defensive lineman Tomasi Kongaika scored on a 30-yard run with 5 seconds remaining for the final score.
Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry tracker
FRIDAY: Wyoming 77, Ogden 33.
RECORDS: Knights (0-3); Cavalry (3-0).
HOMETOWN HERO: Cavs defensive back Tony Dill was a starter on Natrona County's unbeaten state championship team in 2003.
HE SAID IT: "I've been watching this team since I was in eighth grade. So for me to be playing [for the Cavs] means a lot." n Dill.
UP NEXT: New Mexico at Wyoming, April 10.