PALM BEACH GARDENS – This was surely a senior season to remember for Dalton Lyons.
The Benjamin offensive lineman has had several breakthrough moments in many key games. But it can be argued that his best one came in Week 3 of the regular season at Cardinal Newman.
Let us go all the way back to when Lyons won our Breakthrough Player of Week 3 honor.
Lyons (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) moved from offensive tackle to center this season for the Buccaneers. It has greatly paid off in dividends for himself and the entire Buccaneers offense this past fall.
In Week 3, Lyons recorded an astounding 12 pancakes in the first quarter of his team’s 17-7 road win over Cardinal Newman. This alone was enough for catapult the rising star to earn our Breakthrough Player of Week 3 honor.
“I had a rough beginning of this year,” Lyons said. “I lost a lot of family members to COVID…There was a lot of motivation. God pulled me through adversity and by pushing myself. That’s what it was. And knowing the level of competition we were playing, I wanted to set the tone and let people know what was at stake.”
Lyons spoke on how Benjamin has come together as a team after three games played.
“In preseason, Coach [Eric] Kresser got us together,” Lyons said. “We worked really hard at camp, two-a-days…I had to become a leader. I’m the only senior lineman on the line, so someone had to stand up. So it was me.”
Lyons (38 pancakes after three regular season games played) also touched on how well sophomore quarterback Tyler Aronson has played. The highly touted signal caller was rarely touched in that Sept. 10, 2021 tilt.
“He’s a little brother to me,” Lyons said. “I love him. I never had a quarterback I could say that about. It would hurt my heart to see him get hurt, so I give everything I got in my heart for him.”
After Week 3, Lyons just kept producing at his position.
When the season ended in the Class 3A – Region 2 final against Lakeland Christian, Lyons would finish his senior year with an astounding 94 pancakes.
Lyons, who did not allow a direct sack in 10 of those games, now has earned offers from Stetson, Grambling State, Tusculum, Ottawa Arizona University, and Arizona Christian.
Our Private Schools Breakthrough Player of the Year was chosen to play in the inaugural Battle of the Beach High School Football All-Star Game (Palm Beach County vs. Broward County). He was also chosen to be part kfthe Blue-Grey All-American Game on Jan. 31 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
And from now until National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2, Lyons will be evaluating every college that has offered him to this point. Lyons could be making his final college decision and signing with the school of his choice on that day.
Lyons spoke on his Breakthrough Player of the Year honor, which he won over the likes of defensive end/linebacker Nick Bailey (St. Andrew’s), defensive back Desean Butler (Delray Beach American Heritage), and defensive back Jenorris Wilcher (Glades Day).
“Means so much, it truly does,” Lyons said. “To be acknowledged of your hard work, it truly feels great.”
