N-G All-State Football: Thompson 'dominates everybody'
Thu, 11/28/2013
Bob Asmussen
LOMBARD — Tradition. Winner. Champion.
Words that hold special meaning at Montini Catholic. Words that aren’t taken lightly. Or for granted.
Dylan Thompson gets it. Always has. From the first day he stepped on campus and joined Chris Andriano’s powerhouse football team.
“He’s been great for us,” Andriano said. “He’s got the right attitude about everything in terms of football and high school.”
Montini’s success, on the field and in the classroom, drew Thompson to the school.
“He was going to go to a Catholic school. His parents were committed to that,” Andriano said. “We’re happy for that. Obviously.”
During his three years on the Montini varsity, Thompson has never lost a playoff game. The defensive leader of the four-time defending champions, Thompson is The News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year.
“He deserves it,” Andriano said. “He earned it.”
At 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, Thompson stands out on the field. But he wasn’t always the biggest guy on the team. Or the best player.
“He was a tall, gangly kid when he first started out,” Andriano said. “He’s progressed from there. He’s been very dedicated in the offseason.”
Thompson worked on the offensive line as a sophomore. But even then, Andriano envisioned a player who soon could dominate on the defensive line.
“He’s unblockable one on one,” Andriano said. “He can run things down. He’s strong and powerful. He’s a complete player.”
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