Dillaha proving to be a valuable asset for Bulldogs

Senior offensive lineman has been a critical player for Alexander early this season thanks to his versatility

By Garrett Kroeger

Alexander senior Fabian Dillaha might not be a starter, but he might just arguably be the team’s most valuable offensive linemen this season.

The Bulldogs possess arguably the best offensive line in District 30-6A this year. The unit is highlighted by the likes of All-State honoree Aaron Carranza, senior Will Omenski – who holds several collegiate offers, and Luis Garcia. However, what separates Alexander’s offensive line from the rest of the district’s lines is Dillaha’s versatility as the team’s swing lineman.

“It’s very important for us or really any program to have a plug-and-play kid,” Alexander offensive line coach Rick Villarreal said. “You are never guaranteed a full game without an injury. So, having a kid (like Dillaha) is very valuable to our program.”

The swing offensive lineman position is an important role on a team because it provides a quality replacement for any starter who goes down. Without a viable replacement, the entire offensive line can suffer. And usually, especially for high school programs, not every team is blessed with a high-quality backup like the Bulldogs are this year.

Despite not being a starter, Dillaha has played in every game this season across the entire offensive line. He’s made appearances at right guard. He started at right tackle for one game as Garcia dealt with a knee injury. Last week in a massive win over Brownsville Veterans Memorial, he filled in at left tackle after Omenski was sidelined due to an ankle injury. And leading up to last week’s game, he almost started at center as starter Victor Pescador wasn’t almost cleared.

“It’s beneficial for us,” Villarreal said.

Now, Dillaha was a starter last year. He just unfortunately lost his starting spot this season as he missed most of the offseason due to a health condition.

Dillaha has described this year as “interesting” for him. He does miss starting as every high school athlete aspires to be a starter. However, he’s been enjoying his role as the team’s utility lineman, especially since he does get to play at a high volume still.

“It’s interesting because I went from a starter to a utility role as a backup,” Dillaha said. “It’s going pretty good. It’s allowing me different experiences. It allows me to be versatile.

“It was due to a medical condition, which didn’t allow me to be cleared. It just set me back. So, it wasn’t anything that I did. So, I am not frustrated with myself. It’s just how the cards were dealt. I am just playing with the cards that were dealt.”

Dillaha finds enjoyment in being the team’s swing lineman this year. To him, it’s fun to play right guard for a play or two and then move to right tackle potentially for another play or two and then move to the other side of the line for a few plays. He constantly has to be ready, which he enjoys.

“I just don’t like playing center,” Dillaha said with a chuckle.

Dillaha is arguably one of the strongest linemen on the linemen on the team. But according to Villarreal, that’s not the senior’s best trait as a lineman. According to the offensive line coach, Dillaha is extremely football savvy.

The senior possesses a high football IQ. He understands what each play needs to look like from his perspective and who he is supposed to get to while following his keys. That, mixed with the intensity he plays with every down, makes Dillaha extremely valuable to Alexander’s success.

“He fights for his starting spot back, which allows him to play hard and with a chip on his shoulder,” Villarreal said.

There’s no guarantee that with six regular-season games left that the entire offensive line will remain healthy for that duration of time. Football is a physical sport that comes with injuries. So, there’s bound to be a nagging injury or two along the way.

Not every high school program is blessed with five quality offensive lineman, let alone six like Alexander has this season. Most teams only have two or three lineman who can dominate. But for the Bulldogs, they have six because of Dillaha’s versatility.

Dillaha could have easily been frustrated with his role this year. To go from a starter to a backup can upset the best of athletes. But fortunately for the Bulldogs, Dillaha has accepted his new role in stride and with pride, too. He’s proud to be the team’s swing lineman this season, because to him, he still feels like a starter. And he knows just how valuable he is to the team’s success this year.

“If anyone is not performing, they can put me in,” Dillaha said. “If anyone is injured, they can put me in, too. I will always have a spot.

“I don’t want to sound full of myself but it makes me probably one of the most valuable on the team. A lot of times with other teams, when a starter gets hurt, they are scrambling around trying to find guys from the junior varsity team. But if someone gets hurt here, just put Dillaha in. I have played every position along the line. For that versatility, it’s invaluable. You can’t ask for more.”