A new era of Dayton football certainly had its ups and downs.
The 2024 season opened under head coach Jerry Prieto, who came in with a solid resume and a vision to turn the Broncos around.
Baby steps were made, but the season might be remembered most for the season-opening win over rival Crosby (Prieto was head coach there from 2019-22) followed by some untimely injuries that derailed any hope in such a competitive District 8-5A Division II.
Dayton finished 4-6 overall and 2-5 in district play, winning two of its final three games.
At SportCast Media, we wanted to take some time to tip our caps to the top Dayton Bronco players, games, storylines and what to look forward to next year.
This article was produced independently by SportCast Media and should have no influence on postseason awards given out by the team, district or recognition given out from local or state media outlets.
SENIOR STANDOUTS
Jaleel Kendrick, Running Back
Kendrick was the iron man of the Dayton Broncos offense this fall. Without a ton of prior experience at the varsity level from the running back position, Kendrick’s health was key to Broncos putting up points. When all was said and done, Kendrick finished the year with 746 rushing yards and nine trips to the end zone. He made a second home at Randall Reed Stadium in New Caney. Kendrick rushed for 154 yards against Porter (Sept. 13) and 204 yards against West Fork (Oct. 31). Kendrick also totaled 331 receiving yards and caught a touchdown at Montgomery. At home against Splendora, Kendrick threw a 70-yard touchdown pass.
READ: Kendrick A Big Producer At Running Back For Dayton (October 24)
Jaleel Kendrick (20)
Braeden White, Wide Receiver
White led the Broncos in receptions with 25 on the year and was second behind Kendrick in receiving yards with 288. White tied for the team-lead with two touchdown receptions. White had a 70-yard touchdown reception (from the arm of Kendrick) against Splendora and totaled a season-high 93 yards that night.
Marcus James, Tight End
Like White, James also had two touchdown receptions on the season with one against Splendora. James had a season-high 70 receiving yards that night and totaled 241 yards on the season.
Donahvan Thibodeaux, Offensive Tackle
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound left tackle did a quality job protecting the blindside all season and gave the Broncos an edge in the running game.
Andrew Soliz, Hybrid Linebacker
Soliz was a walking nightmare to quarterbacks this fall. The senior totaled 16 sacks and 32 quarterback hurries over 10 games and is among the leaders in Texas in sacks via MaxPreps. Soliz had a night for the ages against Splendora as he totaled three of the team’s 11 sacks and hurried the Wildcats quarterback five times. Soliz recorded a sack in nine out of 10 games. He also totaled a career-high 109 tackles.
READ: Soliz Power: Dayton Senior Punishing Quarterbacks This Season (October 30)
Andrew Soliz (34)
Devin Tanner, Defensive Lineman
The big man up front totaled 63 tackles, three sacked and hurried the quarterback eight times in his eight games played this season.
Azrae Beechem, Defensive Back
It was a risk throwing Beechem’s way this fall. The senior made quarterbacks pay for their mistakes with a team-high four interceptions. He had two interceptions on back-to-back weeks starting with Nederland and then against Lake Creek the following week.
Ashanti Allen, Defensive Back
Allen had an interception and totaled 55 tackles from his spot the secondary.
Mark Arellano, Kicker
The senior was 20-for-21 on point-after attempts and was 5-for-8 on field goals with a long of 28 yards.
Aaron Wright, Athlete
Wright contributed the most on defense with 70 tackles, but also saw some on offense.
Angelo Hadley, Defensive Lineman
Hadley made 47 tackles, including eight for a loss, as well as a pair of sacks.
CAN’T WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR
Jerry Prieto Jr, Quarterback
Prieto Jr barely scratched the surface before leaving at halftime against Montgomery in the fourth game of the season with a collarbone injury. The sophomore threw for 584 yards (a completion percentage of 56.1) and four touchdowns. He also rushed for four touchdowns and 158 yards, including that memorable dive at the pylon against Crosby in Week 1. Dayton was 2-2 in games started by Prieto Jr.
Jerry Prieto Jr (5)
Denim Foster, Athlete
Foster gritted through an ankle injury in Week 1 to help the Broncos over Crosby. The junior didn’t play again until Week 5 at Montgomery when he came back at running back, but then took over at quarterback due to Prieto Jr’s injury. Foster suffered a season-ending injury himself early in Week 7 against Lake Creek. For the year, Foster ran for 255 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 93 yards.
Wyatt Keasling, Athlete
A tip of the cap to the sophomore, who did a little bit of everything for the Broncos until suffering a season-ending injury against Splendora. Keasling was the quarterback at that point, but prior to that provided stability in the return game as well as a threat on offense whenever he touched the ball.
Merkle Judge, Linebacker
Judge had an unbelievable junior year for the Broncos and is one on the defensive side of the ball to really keep an eye on next year. Judge totaled a team-best 148 tackles (22 for loss), eight sacks, and intercepted two passes.
Rakin Akmal, Defensive Back
Akmal was second on the team in tackles with 125 (12 for loss). The junior sacked the quarterback twice and also forced and recovered two fumbles.
Colton Havard, Defensive Back
Havard was tied for third on the team with 109 tackles, 14 of which came for a loss. He had two sacks, forced two fumbles and picked off a pass on homecoming night against Splendora.
GAMES TO REMEMBER
Dayton 19, Crosby 14 (Week 1 – August 30)
The Broncos held firm at home in beating rival Crosby for the first time since 2012. With Prieto Jr calling signals in his Broncos debut at quarterback, Dayton went up 13-0 in the first five minutes and relied on a Denim Foster touchdown run late to secure the win.
Dayton 33, Splendora 6 (Week 9 – October 25)
The Broncos showed out for the homecoming crowd by breaking up a four-game losing streak with a dominant effort on defense. The Broncos pressued the Wildcats with 15 quarterback hurries and 11 sacks on the night as Soliz led with three and Judge, Akmal and Kiran Simon each had two apiece. Splendora had minus-18 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Kendrick rushed for two scores and threw a touchdown pass.
Dayton 40, West Fork 8 (Week 10 – October 31)
Six nights later, Dayton was at it again as it put up a season-high 40 points and allowed single digits on defense in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2022. Kendrick went off for 204 yards and three touchdown runs. Akmal and Judge each had touchdowns off takeaways.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dayton faced hardship head-on all season as injuries mounted. If the internet is still a thing 50 years from now and MaxPreps is still chugging along, can you imagine the reaction the Broncos’ quarterback category will receive? Eight different players threw passes and five different players started games (Prieto Jr, Foster, Braden Gutierrez, Keasling and Easton Brock). Kendrick’s breakout year was one to remember and the defensive effort led by Soliz against Splendora will surely motivate those returning next year. Dayton will play the same schedule at reverse locations and will take another shot at getting the Broncos back to consistent playoff contenders.
Dayton Broncos run out before a game at Montgomery back in September.
