Junior Dallas Perkins, strong offensive line coming up big

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

Long before the phrase ‘spread offense’ became the norm, the Alma Airedales churned out their share of 1,000-yard rushers. The late Marvin Daily did it twice in back-to-back 1969-70 seasons, when he accounted for 2,483 yards and 36 touchdowns.

In all, 15 Alma football players have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season.

Garrison Jensen is the last Airedale to hit the century club, when he rushed for 1,051 yards in 2017. In all, Jensen had the second-most prolific offensive season in history by accumulating 3,481 yards that season, less than 100 yards fewer than Noah Dotson’s 3,556 yards in 2016.

Three games into his junior season, the Airedales’ Dallas Perkins has already rumbled for 466 yards and six touchdowns.

“I’ve just started being more patient behind the linemen and letting the holes develop before I get going,” Perkins said. “If we get the run figured out, then we can also throw it, and if we do that well, no one is going to be able to stop us.”

Held to 36 yards on 15 carries against Van Buren, Perkins ran 253 yards and four touchdowns against Russellville, and followed up that night with 177 yards and two more scores against Vilonia.

This week, the Airedales (2-1) open 5A-West play against Clarksville.

“It definitely tells you what they’re (linemen) doing up front, the physicality and holes they’re opening up for Dallas,” Alma offensive line coach Ryan Pointer said. “We must run the ball; that’s what we’re trying to do first. I preach to my guys (linemen) how important it is to run the ball, and once they (opponents) start loading the box, that opens up long (pass) plays for D.J. or Maddux (Caldwell), or whoever. We’ve got some weapons out there.”

Alma has already established itself as a strong passing team as well, with second-year quarterback Jay Lemieux already throwing for 700 yards and nine touchdowns.

Alma has also rushed for 496 yards, about a third of what the team had (1,209) in 2025.

“I knew coming into the year we were going to be a very successful group,” said Carson Avant, a two-year starter on Alma’s offensive line. “ We worked hard through the spring, summer, and into the fall camp to get to this point. I think we’ve worked hard to give Dallas a chance to get 1,000 yards.”

Dallas Smith holds the single-season record for yards rushing at 1,457 in 2002. And, despite seven different quarterbacks throwing for 2,000 yards in the years since, Alma has produced a steady flow of 1,000-yard rushers as well - Kyle Goodwin (2003), Joseph Medeiros (2005), Biagio Tumminello (2006), Isaac McCoy (2010), Malachi White (2013, and Jensen (2017).

Is Perkins next?

“It would mean a lot to us, and to Dallas,” Avant said. “We’ve done to execute our run plays to the full extent.”

Avant said the line’s goal is to get Perkins over the 300-yard mark, a feat done only once by Jackson Daily in 2023.

“He’s already gotten over 250 … so our goal is to get him 300,” Avant said.