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Malden's Bell and Dobbins earn All-Conference honors
As the 2024 football season comes to an end in Southeast Missouri, the Malden Green Wave hoisted two players to All-SEMO Conference honors.
Sophomore lineback Zion Bell and junior defensive back Dyentez Dobbins earned First-Team All-Conference for their defensive efforts this season.
The two players and the addition of new head coach Treston Pulley helped the Green Wave to their first win in over three years, snapping a 30-game losing streak.
According to Pulley, as Bell is only a sophomore, there is a lot of potential in his young career.
“I had the privilege this year of being his position coach,” Pulley said. “I saw him grow and grow and grow in that position as a linebacker. I could tell by week four that he could really good moving forward in his career.”
Standing at 6’5” and 220-Ibs Bells finished the season with the second-best defensive rating in the SEMO Conference.
He recorded over 100 tackles, six of which were tackles for loss. He also had four forced fumbles this season.
“He’s gonna be a really good prospect moving forward,” Pulley said. “The sky is the limit for him.”
For Dobbins, a 6’4” junior, it was a struggle to find a single position to best fit his athletic abilities. As a linebacker, he recorded 55 tackles this season and four tackles for loss. Along with making contact, he forced a lot of turnovers and snatched four interceptions. One of those picks he was able to take back home for a 60-yard touchdown.
“We kept playing around with him position-wise,” Pulley said. “He’s a special athlete and I don’t think he really knows how special he can be. He’s a talented kid and I am excited to have him back next season.”
Despite being selected First-Team All-Defense, Dobbins played both sides of the ball and was just as much of a threat offensively.
He was one of three main receivers for the Green Wave. He recorded 223 yards on 15 catches and had three touchdowns in his junior campaign.
Pulley said these two kids were easy to notice, not only because of their work and talent but also because of their size.
“They have a tangible size that coaches notice when you turn on film tape,” Pulley said. “As soon as you turn the film on, you see them and then you notice their play-making abilities.”
Pulley predicts Bell and Dobbins to be team leaders in the upcoming season.
Bell, who has made his mark as a student-athlete, leads by example. He is a straight-A student who puts in the effort to get better every day under Pulley’s coaching.
“He’s really coachable and I believe he wants to be better, just by his work ethic in the weight room, at practice and in the classroom,” Pulley said. “Seeing his growth at a young age is something that deserves recognition.”
Along with Bell and Dobbins, senior Tylyne Mathies was selected for Second-Team All-Offensive. He had 348 receiving yards on 21 catches and five touchdowns.
He also recorded 184 kick-off returning yards this season and one returning touchdown.
Pulley is still not where he wants to be after his first season with Malden, however, he has noticed the progress. He said this was just the start of rebuilding Green Wave football.
“It’s really special for our program, seeing that we haven’t had a First-Team All-Conference selection in three or four years,” Pulley said. “Our program has been down but these two were still able to shine within the mess and they can really help this program grow. I hope they can keep going, and growing and keep getting better. I really believe we’re on the climax up.”