By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — His eight tackles helped Dasheen Perry wrap up defensive MVP in the Vikings’ 20-13 win over North Duplin in the NCHSAA 1-A state championship game, and thanks to a stellar season Perry has wrapped up another honor as he is the Washington Daily News Defensive Player of the Area.
Thanks to his blazing sideline-to-sideline speed and fundamentally sound technique, Perry took down 151 ball carriers this year to lead what Plymouth coach Robert Cody called the best defense the Vikings have ever had.
Plymouth shut down its opponents during the regular season allowing a mere 53 points in 11 games, while pitching five shutouts.
As hard as it is to believe, the Vikings’ defense improved in the postseason as they blanked their first three opponents and finished the playoffs letting up only 19 points.
While Plymouth’s defense is filled with stars, Perry’s seemed to always shine the brightest. The outside linebacker possesses an excellent nose for the ball and the speed to get to it.
Perry said what made himself and the Vikings defense so good was the team’s chemistry.
The senior linebacker has been with the varsity program for three years, and Cody said his dedication to practice and the weight room has paid off.
In the state championship game, Perry went from being a man to being The Man, as his timely tackles stifled the North Duplin attack.
Physical qualities aside, Terry Perry said that Dasheen has the perfect makeup for a linebacker.
Like all great competitors, Perry said he is happy to leave Plymouth as a champion and is looking forward to new challenges.
Perry, who plans on majoring in computer engineering, said that he has a short list of colleges he is still mulling over, but is leaning towards playing football and attending class at Mars Hill.