Belhaven’s Dial earns two USA South weekly honors

Belhaven freshman quarterback Matthew Dial earned USA South Offensive Player of the Week and Offensive Rookie of the Week honors after the Blazers’ 20-15 road win at Methodist, the conference announced Monday.

Dial completed 29 of 40 passes for a career-high 355 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. The Ocala, Florida, native’s first Offensive Player of the Week award was his second Offensive Rookie of the Week selection. Belhaven improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

Dial’s decisive drive began with Belhaven trailing 15-14 and taking possession at its own 10-yard line with 2:52 left. He completed all six passes on the 90-yard possession, which took 1 minute, 38 seconds. After an 18-yard pass to Wyatt Locastro and a 43-yard completion to John Davis, Dial connected with Locastro for seven yards on third-and-2. On the next play, he threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cannon Carruth with 1:14 remaining. Belhaven’s defense stopped Methodist on its final possession.

Dial also helped produce two earlier Belhaven touchdown drives. Before halftime, he completed a 14-yard pass to Locastro on fourth-and-1, then found Carruth twice to move the Blazers to the 1-yard line. Clayton Mains finished the drive with a touchdown run for a 7-6 lead.

In the third quarter, Dial connected with Dwayne Winfield for 51 yards on third-and-15, then capped a 95-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Draten Norwood. Through seven appearances, Dial has completed 78 of 119 passes for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns, with three interceptions. Belhaven is 3-1 in his four career starts.

Dial previously received Offensive Rookie of the Week honors after Belhaven’s win at Greensboro on Oct. 17. The Blazers are scheduled to host LaGrange at Belhaven Bowl Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for noon.

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