SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County quarterback Matthew Dillon shares his name with a Hollywood actor and a television character from “Gunsmoke,” the hit Western series that ran through the 1960s and 1970s.
Dillon’s grandmother sometimes jokes with him about it.
“It’s cool,” Dillon says with the unflappable demeanor of James Arnessfacing an outlaw gang riding into town.
Dillon and his posse will stare down the South Effingham Mustangs when they invade Springfield on Friday night. Dillon doesn’t know much about the rivalry, but he isn’t planning to back down.
“I’m new to it. All I know is that it’s a rivalry team and everyone is saying we have to beat them,” he said. “We have to go out there and play our best.”
A new cast of characters
Dillon, along with his brother Jordan Dillon, an offensive lineman committed to Georgia Tech, was part of a quartet of Savannah Christian players who transferred to Effingham County and made an already strong Rebels team even stronger.
Defensive lineman RJ Brown has been a stalwart and has received an offer from the University of Georgia. Running back Bradford Joyner, now a freshman, could be a future standout after starring for the Raiders’ youth teams.
But when the credits roll, Matthew Dillon, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound soft-spoken sophomore, emerges as a leading man.
He didn’t see much action at Savannah Christian while playing behind Blaise Thomas, who earned region Player of the Year honors.
Making the most of his opportunity
Through six games at Effingham County, Dillon has completed 68% of his passes, going 75 of 111 for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the Rebels’ most recent game, a 36-25 win over Glynn Academy, he set career highs with 232 passing yards and four touchdown passes.
The Rebels, averaging more than 37 points per game, have won four straight and sit atop the Region 1-6A standings.
“For (Dillon) to come in and play as calm and confidently as he has, it’s been a joy for me personally and professionally,” ECHS coach John Ford said. “He does such a good job during the week paying attention to film, taking coaching. He’s been really fun to be around every day.”
Ford saw a turning point for Dillon during an organized team activity in Waycross against several high-profile programs, including Thomas County Central, Camden County and Ware County.
“(Dillon) saw the speed of the game with those teams and he was able to make adjustments to that level,” Ford said. “But until the lights are on and the band and cheerleaders are on the sidelines and the teams are on the field, you really never know.”
Distributing the ball and making plays
Dillon understands his role. He doesn’t try to be a gunslinger. Instead, his point guard-like distribution of the ball has made him a key piece of Ford’s spread offense, which graduated prolific passer Tucker Perkins.
Skilled wide receivers Trayvis Hunter, Isaiah Brown and Malik Letman make the job easier. In the first quarter against Glynn Academy, Dillon threw three touchdown passes to Brown.
And when a strip-sack fumble was returned 65 yards for Glynn’s go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, Dillon made amends less than a minute later, firing a 70-yard touchdown pass to Letman to put the Rebels ahead for good.
“We have great weapons out there and knowing they can make plays, it gives you a lot of confidence,” Dillon said. “I feel like we’re doing great. We’re executing and playing well.”
