The Mitchell Mustangs are the “Question Mark” team in Pasco County this season. Expectations are high stemming from a great 2014 start and a solid playoff performance. 30 wins in the last 5 seasons. Each year, 6 wins. That will no longer be good enough for a program returning talent such as JJ Lewis and Dominic Fiumara. In addition to the seasoned, rising seniors sophomore quarterback Larry Dalla Betta is preparing for a breakout season. The time is right for this 6-3/200 passer to show his skills on the way to a big year for the Mustangs.
After starting the last third of the 2014 season, Larry compiled 428 yards passing, 4 TD passes, 136 yards rushing with one TD run, one 100+ rushing game, 564 total yards. This was done in 3 games and he was not the starting QB until late in the year. “I also threw an additional 100 yards and another TD pass in the three-way tie breaker to get into the playoffs (Those stats were not posted)” said Larry. He will have the chemistry with his top two targets after a strong and productive offseason which should help to propel his 2015 campaign.
We are expecting Larry to start attracting attention from school all across the nation. Which will be a good thing because he has family spread out in Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Texas, Michigan, California, Montana, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas. If all goes as planned, LDB will have a choice of schools to pick from. Though his preference would likely be at a school near a big city. Contrast to the little town of New Port Richey where Mitchell is located.
Larry is climbing the charts, standing just shy of 6-4. No telling where he stole his height from. Both his mother and father are 5-9. Just as he continues to grow, his grades continue to improve. Currently he holds a 3.0 GPA and expecting that number to increase at the end of the semester. A 3.0 GPA and great test score will start to attract Universities such as Colorado and Notre Dame which happen to be his Dream Schools. Tennessee is on the list of schools LDB hopes to be recruited by. The school his favorite player, Peyton Manning once attended
So far Warner and Notre Dame are the only two schools LDB has attended. A few schools sending mail and showing interest are FIT, Mount St. Joseph, Stetson, SW Baptist, Wagner, Case Western Reserve, U of Chicago, U of St. Francis and Kansas Wesleyon. He plans to get busy this summer by attending camps at FIT, Stetson, and Mercer. He has been invited to Cincinnati but still trying to work that one out. Also under consideration at this time is University of Chicago, Miami, SW Baptist and Notre Dame. “I will also be at the BCP event including the Xecutive Showcase, the QB Spotlight in Atlanta and continue my weekly training at The Kaleo QB Academy.”
In a short career, LDB has a few accolades to be proud of: Player of the Week for his performance in the Springstead game last season. Special Teams Player of the Week prior to earning the starting QB job. BCP Xecutive selection two years in a row. BCP Fire 79 player ranking list. 2014 Tampa QB Challenge, Elite 8 out of 97 QB’s ultimately placing in second by one point.
As you can see, Larry is setting him self up for a good year. He has been competing in all the right places and will need his team to help accomplish future personal and team goals. “When you train so hard all year on a sport you love, you would hate for all that work and your teammates, coaches hard work to go to waste. If you dedicate yourself to a goal, whether individual or team, you give everything you have to achieve that goal. I want to succeed for my teammates, coaches and my school. Mitchell football is a force and will continue to be a force for years to come.” – LDB