Watching East Union High’s speedy linebacker-tight end Dylan Meneses deliver form-perfect stops, one would never imagine the 6-foot, 2-inch junior could tackle anything else with so much tenacity — but he does.

The two-way starter is president of East Union’s FFA and carries a 4.0 grade-point average despite all that pre-calculus homework.

“I don’t really know how I have time for it all,” Meneses said with a laugh. “During football season, life is really hectic.”

Meneses’ responsibilities don’t end with the FFA, class work and tackles. At practice, the Lancers have worked him into wide receiver and slot receiver sets with heavy action from the tight end position. On defense, Meneses splits time between middle, weak-side and strong-side linebacker with a deep role in blitz packages.

The duties would be too much for most high school athletes, but Meneses grew up on a dairy farm and is all too familiar with tasks and chores. He represents the perfect type of athlete for Lancers coach Mike James.

“Dylan has great leadership skills, almost like a coach on the field, with the capability to play a lot of different roles,” James said. “I don’t know many tight ends who can play all these different positions and actually block.”

Meneses will be one of several options for quarterbacks Dennis Johnson, Ricky Inderbitzin and T.J. Gordon. Inderbitzin (wide receiver) and Gordon (running back) also play different roles in East Union’s offense, leaving Johnson with three sharp options on each play.

“Offensively, I just want to provide for the team,” Meneses said. “I just want to do what is best for the team and play wherever they need me.”

Meneses is part of a new-look program that has genuine depth on the line for the first time in many years. Linemen Devon Woodall (5-11, 285), Tim Mora (6-4, 307) and Hector Fajardo (5-9, 246) are the stable of that group.

“Our line is going to a good job this year, and if someone does allow a defender into the backfield, Dennis is not going to go down easy,” Meneses said. “We changed a lot as a varsity program from last year to now, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

James is equally excited, though an 8-40-1 record over five seasons has taught the veteran coach to ground his high expectations.

James was optimistic at this time in 2008, before early season-ending injuries to starting running back-safety Jordan Clark and tight end-linebacker Corey Hardesty sent the team into turmoil.

The winless season

was tough on the school, the players and especially James, who admits he received plenty of grief over the offseason about his win-loss record.

“People can write in the paper and knock me all they want about my record, but I really believe in what East Union does as a program,” said James, who played for the Lancers’ VOL championship team in 1981. “Is it too bad that we are not winning? Yeah. Would I trade it for wins? Sure. But I will not trade wins for my integrity.”

James said Meneses and the ’09 Lancers will take the first step toward building a tradition of success. That will involve a departure from the recent past.

The team was outscored 313-93 last season, a travesty the Lancers must avoid to gain a hold on any kind of progress.

“We have to change tradition at East Union, and it starts on the field and it starts with the scoreboard,” James said. “The bottom line is, we have to win games.”

East Union High Schedule

Friday, Sept. 11

East Union vs. Beyer, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 18

East Union at Bear Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25

East Union at Lathrop, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9

East Union at Weston Ranch, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 16

East Union vs. Oakdale, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23

East Union at Central Valley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30

East Union vs. Sonora, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 6

East Union at Ceres, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 13

East Union at Manteca, 7 p.m.