Daily Pilot Football Player of the Week: Dylan Hendy

Barry Faulkner

No matter how much homework Corona del Mar High senior Dylan

Hendy’s class load produces, an additional educational challenge this

time of year involves reading defenses.

For while Sea Kings Coach Dick Freeman vowed to simplify the team’s

offense this year, the demands of offensive coordinator Lyle Lansdell’s

annual “Quarterback 101” program, both in the classroom and on the field,

are still enough to tax the most fertile intellect.

So, Hendy, ever a student of the game, utilizes weekends to enhance

his gridiron education.

“The amount of work he puts in and the interest he has shown in doing

all the extra work has really been above and beyond,” Freeman said.

The results of his hard work have helped Hendy bring balance to an

offense that has relied heavily on the run in recent years.

Hendy, who shared the starting job last year and missed four games

with a broken wrist after transferring from Fountain Valley the spring

semester of his sophomore year, has been particularly effective the last

three games. He has not thrown an interception during that span and has

now gone 65 attempts without being picked off.

In Friday’s 35-6 Pacific Coast League-opening win over Estancia, Hendy

completed 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. He also scored a

rushing TD, his fourth of the season. He is now 32 of 59 for 482 yards

and four TDs his last three games, all CdM victories, and has completed

57 of 108 for 778 yards and six TDs on the season.

And, he is the Daily Pilot’s High School Football Player of the Week.

“We still don’t necessarily ask him to win games for us, but he is

contributing a lot more,” Freeman said. “Rather than throwing eight times

a game, we throw at least twice that much. If we have to run the ball 40

times, we’re not going to beat anyone.”

Hendy, who lists accuracy as his leading attribute as a passer, said

his comfort level in the pocket has also improved. He said his classroom

learning sessions, reinforced by practices and two-hours-a-day weekend

throwing sessions, usually with CdM receivers Paul Jones and Matt

Feinauer, all contribute to his ability to make correct decisions on the

field.

“On Saturday, we have a quarterback meeting where we go over the game

we just played and the game we’re going to play,” Hendy said. “Then, I go

out on the field and work on things I can do better. I try to fix my

mistakes.”

Hendy also said he got tired of throwing interceptions (12 in his

first 123 varsity attempts through the first three games this fall,

including four in his first 49 attempts this season).

“I just decided my job was to protect the ball,” Hendy said. “You have

to choose when it’s time to try to make a play and when it’s not worth

the risk. What has happened the last three games is, I’ve slowed the game

down and am taking what the defense gives me.”

Freeman has noticed the change.

“I think the biggest thing is, he’s willing to take a sack or pull the

ball down and run,” Freeman said. “And, since we’re calling more pass

plays, maybe he doesn’t feel like he needs to make something happen on

every one.”

Hendy said he has become better at recognizing pressure in the pocket

and actually looks forward to making a play with his legs, rather than

his arm. He has rushed 33 times this year for 24 yards, but has scored a

rushing touchdown in all but two games.

“I don’t mind running anymore,” Hendy said. “It’s kind of fun. I think

it has expanded my game.”

A quiet leader who has played quarterback since he was 7 years old,

Hendy said his hope is to remain productive and help the Sea Kings

(4-1-1) pursue a CIF Southern Section Division IX playoff berth.

“What I try to strive for is consistency,” he said.