Moniteau presenting 'Slash' this year
CHERRY TWP — Dalton Anderson's smile is wide and beaming when his role on the Moniteau football team this season is brought up.
Anderson will take “slash” to a whole new level.
“It's definitely exciting,” said Anderson, a senior who will have many positions next to his name.
Wide receiver/running back/quarterback/leader.
He has a smile like former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and is built like him, too.
At 5-foot-11 and nearly 190 pounds, Anderson is solid and speedy — and a dangerous weapon for the Warriors, no matter where he lines up.
“That's the fun part of coaching,” said Moniteau coach Wade Vogan. “You have a kid like Dalton Anderson, you see how you can get him the ball. We're going to line him up at receiver, at quarterback, at running back. He's going to be in motion, running sweeps and running jets. You tell him that and his eyes light up. As a coach, you pray for something like that.”
Last year as a junior, Anderson caught 31 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns. His 31 receptions were nearly half of the team total.
But quarterback Derek Boben is gone and two sophomores, Chance Nagy and Hunter Fitzingo, are competing for the job.
No matter. Anderson knows he will get his touches.
“I'm just trying to do my best for the team,” he said, smiling again. “Last year, I was just trying to improve my blocking because I knew we weren't going to throw the ball a whole lot. If I can help us get more yards rushing, that's what I'll do.
“I think we have a lot more speed,” Anderson added. “Our two quarterbacks are young, but they are talented. I think our passing game is going to surprise people.”
Vogan is excited to devise ways to get Anderson the ball.
As a coach, he said he loathes trying to gameplan to stop one player and hopes Anderson can bring that dilemma to the opposition.
“With Dalton, I'm smiling,” Vogan said. “If you don't prepare for him, he's gonna eat you up.”
