KFDM COOP Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 Undersized receiver plays big for Dayton By Dave Mathews Published December 17, 2008 DAYTON – At 5 foot, 6 inches and 150 pounds, Damian Berotte is one of the smaller Dayton Broncos. But in last Saturday’s state semifinal game, the senior wide receiver came up huge. His diving shoestring catch of a two-point conversion pass gave Dayton a 14-14 halftime tie. Then Berotte’s first touchdown catch of the year, an 8-yarder with 1:50 remaining in the game, tied things up at 28-all. And that set the stage for Dayton’s last-second winning field goal in the 31-28 win over Kerrville Tivy. The Broncos play Sulphur Springs in the Class 4A Division II state championship game Saturday at 2 p.m. in San Antonio’s Alamodome. “I might not get that many balls a game, but I try to catch every ball that comes to me,†Berotte (pronounced be-ROT) said earlier this week. A reserve on last year’s state semifinalist team, he’s a starting outside receiver in Dayton’s four-wideout set. Through 14 games, he ranks fourth on the team in receptions with 20 catches for 346 yards, a team-leading 17 yards per catch. “I don’t think people were expecting me to do as good as I have this year, but I think I’ve had a good season,†Berotte said. “Terry (Asson) and I, the outside receivers, we don’t get the ball much, but when we get it, we make big plays.†His first big play against Tivy came on the extra-point pass after Dayton scored on a 29-yard pass from Cody Green to Payton Ploch with 1:19 left in the first half. “Cody threw it kind of low and I tried to dive and scoop it up,†Berotte said. “People thought it hit the ground first, but I thought I caught it. I held it up in front of the official and he took about 30 seconds to make his decision.†On his tying touchdown, Berotte ran a quick slant and found himself open just short of the end zone. With defenders between him and the end zone, the little receiver dived and pushed the football across the goal line. “In the back of my mind, I was just thinking ‘We can’t lose.’ As I was reaching the ball out, I was screaming ‘We ain’t losing this game!’†Berotte watched from the sidelines a few minutes later when A.J. Dugat stole the ball from a Tivy receiver and returned it 50 yards to set up the Green’s winning field goal. “Everybody contributes to this team,†he said. “A.J. and Cody, they’re just like leaders of the team.â€
rollinac Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 bump Didn't realize he was quite that small...man is he quick and fast though!!
JS Posted December 18, 2008 Report Posted December 18, 2008 Berotte is an unsung hero---does his job and does not complain and he came thru bigtime last Saturday!
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