A leader is someone who demonstrates what’s possible.
Thomas Dale’s Matt Lawton emerged from a two-quarterback system early last season and came out on the other side as a team leader.
That leadership has been rewarded, as the Knights quarterback received his first offer from Chowan University, in Murfreesboro, N.C.
The Hawks, coached by Tim Place (10th year), are a NCAA Division II team that plays in the CIAA. Chowan went 6-4 overall last season and 4-3 in their conference.
Amid a Knights program that has always loved to run the football, Lawton found success through the air, and with that, his team got better.
“Matt is one of the hardest-working kids I have ever coached,” said Thomas Dale coach Kevin Tucker. “He lives in the weight room, first one in and last to leave.
“Colleges told him he was too small to play quarterback his 10th-grade year, so he set a plan in place to get the size and speed they were looking for.
“Two years later, he is 30 pounds heavier, and he knocked his forty (40 yards) down to a 4.68. He earned this scholarship, and now he wants to go out and lead his team to a state championship.”
Last season, the 6-1, 170-pound junior (class of 2017) finished the season with 1,637 yards passing and 21 touchdowns. Also, he set school records for most yards passing in a season and in a game.
As a result of his success, Thomas Dale earned a playoff berth and reached the state semifinals.
The first team All-Conference quarterback and second team All-Region did this the old-fashion way; with hard work. Besides adding weight and muscle to his frame, he has developed an accurate arm.
“I believe I earned the starting quarterback role through sheer determination and hard work,” Lawton explained. “I dedicated my entire offseason to quarterback mechanics, quarterback training, and to nutrition and weightlifting as well as speed training.
Lawton added to his regimen a nutrition and training program designed to add lean mass. As part of it he embarked on a work-out routine on a daily basis.
The player who dons the No. 8 jersey describes himself as a quiet leader who will not be outworked and desires to play football at the next level. In fact, his three favorite athletes all happen to be quarterbacks – Tom Brady, Kirk Cousins and Tim Tebow. Nice examples after which to pattern a career. The Knights are looking for Lawton’s type of commitment from every single team member. The last time Thomas Dale got that kind of commitment, it found itself with a state title in 2009 in Charlottesville on Dec. 12 with a win over Lake Braddock.
