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September 17, 2018
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Eagles take on Irish See page B-2
Donte Dixon — leader setting a standard for his team By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Northwood senior Donte Dixon figures he’s got a pretty good handle on where he stands with his football teammates. Asked what they would say about him if asked, the 6-foot, 236-pound Dixon thought for a second. “They would say I’m funny, energetic and a leader,” said Dixon, who starts on the offensive and defensive lines. “I feel like my teammates know I have their back and the other way around. We all love each other. You have to earn respect from your teammates. You don’t get it just by walking in the locker room. You have to prove it in practice that you can play football. You have to earn your respect and you have to show respect.” Dixon was an honorable mention AllToledo Area Athletic Conference pick on offense last season, and he’s been a huge cog in the Rangers’ 2-1 start this season. Northwood, the TAAC coaches’ pick to win the conference title, traveled to Edon (1-2) on Friday following last week’s 48-44 shootout win over Rossford. Dixon credits his dad, Charles, for helping him mold an identity as a leader and someone his coaches and teammates can count on. Donte also started at forward on Northwood’s basketball team last season. “My dad’s side (of the family), we were all in athletics,” Dixon said. “My dad was good in high school. He went to Waite and played quarterback. I also learned from last year’s seniors. They really helped me out and showed me how to lead a team.” Northwood coach Ken James, in his 33rd season, said he’d love to have fifty Donte Dixons. “He’s a leader on our football team,” James said. “Fundamentally, he’s as good as anybody we’ve had and he’s ridiculously coachable. You say we need this done this way, and then you don’t worry about it anymore. He’s a competitor. When he shows up to practice, he’s there to practice.” Dixon has played center, guard and tackle on the offensive line this season. “It’s not easy, but I had to learn them,” he said. “I would say guard is my favorite. Sometimes you get to pull around and hit the defender. If they don’t see you, you can blindside them and wake them up.” Dixon, however, said he much rather prefers playing defense. He sacked Rossford’s quarterback at the Bulldogs’ 5-yard-line late in last week’s game, and senior teammate Jon Lucas got an interception to seal the win on the last play of the game. “I love defense,” Dixon said. “You can make plays on offense, but on defense you can make plays and get your name called out for making tackles. On the offensive line, you don’t get that much credit. When you make a tackle, people go crazy.” In three games Dixon has 17 tackles, including two for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one batted down pass. He saw some varsity action on the offensive line as a freshman. “He probably wasn’t physically ready, but he’s always been so fundamentally ready and he’s so coachable,” James said. “Sophomore year he had some knee issues and missed a good portion of the first part of the season. He’s just a warrior for us and played probably when he shouldn’t have as
Northwood lineman Donte Dixon (64) running interference for one of his backs. (Press photo by Don Thompson/ Facebook. com/ DNRsport) a sophomore. He still was not completely healthy last year.” Dixon started at center as a junior and missed a couple games with an ankle in-
jury. He’s been healthy so far this season, which makes James happy. “Donte has always been a good football player,” the coach said. “Now he has the
physical tools to match the type of football player he is. He does all the little stuff well.” James added that Dixon’s best work often comes before and after games. He said Dixon often offers his teammates rides to and from school, and he has no problem showing the younger players how to adjust to high school. “After our first game, against Woodmore, the kids all headed in (to the locker room) and Donte is over by the bench, helping the coaches and managers load up the equipment,” James said. “That’s what kind of kid he is. To me, it was a good example of what kind of person he is.” Why help pick up equipment after a game? “It’s natural for me to be nice and kind,” Dixon said. “I’m not going to go into the locker room and yell at the freshmen. They usually pick that (equipment) up. I show them how it’s going to be done and follow my way. Then they can follow me when I leave.” Dixon said he wants to play football in college and study graphic design or video editing. He sees a master’s degree in his future, but first he wants to lead Northwood into the state playoffs for the first time since 2013. “If we get our heads right mentally, we can be a state qualifier and make some big things happen,” Dixon said. “We want to leave a legacy for the younger classes. That’s very important to me. I’m doing everything I can to win right now. It’s my last chance.”
Gibsonburg photographer gets Browns-Steelers shots
Gibsonburg photographer Alberto Onderko got these shots of the Pittsburgh SteelersCleveland Browns 21-21 tie at First Energy Stadium to open the NFL season. At top left, Steelers back James Conner evades a tackler, and at top right Browns wide recevier Jarvis Landry is announced as a starter. At left, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tries to get a pass to Conner past Cleveland defensive lineman Myles Garrett. Several years ago Onderko, now in his 50s, answered a newspaper ad about taking photos for the United Press Corps. That organization got him a photo pass to be on the field for the Steelers’ game in 2005 and he’s been shooting ever since.
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