Bee’s Best prep football: No. 22 Dixon looks to build on a year full of firsts

The Sacramento Bee will unveil our Top 25 football rankings from No. 25 to No. 1, a team every weekday, right up to the Aug. 19 kickoff.

No. 22 Dixon

City: Dixon

School Opened: 1940

League: Golden Empire League

Division: IV

Enrollment: 1,057

2021 spring record: 7-4

Coach: Wes Besseghini

Outlook:

Dixon’s first full season back from the pandemic provided some of the best moments in school history: a rare game-winning blocked field goal run back for a touchdown against Pioneer and making it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in coach Wes Besseghini’s 12-year tenure at the school.

Even though the Rams were blown out by Vanden in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, the spine of that year’s team is returning another year wiser.

“I think that this year’s team is going to be fun to watch,” Besseghini said. “We have some kids coming back that are really explosive, a quarterback that has an amazing arm and a line we feel like can protect him.”

“We’re going to spread the ball out, move it all over the place and go from sideline to sideline. We’re preaching high energy consistently in everything we do.”

Senior Jett Harris, who threw for 2,039 yards and 21 touchdowns will return at quarterback.

“He needs to be the leader of our team,” Besseghini said. “He showed out his junior year, so now he’s got to be the man.”

According to Besseghini, seven starters will play both offense and defense.

For example, senior Seyyid Smith will return to play left tackle and various spots across the defensive line. Besseghini said that Smith will be a leader on both lines.

Pacing both the offense and defense will be senior Braden Baumbach, who will play running back and middle linebacker.

“He’s a low-to-the-ground, bowling-ball type of player that I wouldn’t want to tackle,” Besseghini said.

Baumbach rushed for 494 yards and scored 7 touchdowns last season behind outgoing running back Mark Bernard (who scored that game-winning block). He also tallied 70 total tackles and averaged two tackles for loss per game.

After getting his first taste of playoff success, Besseghini said that it is his goal to repeat as Golden Empire League champions and contend for a section title which he has yet to do.

“I think this team can be very special, but what we’ve been preaching is that potential doesn’t always equal outcomes,” Besseghini said. “I don’t think we’re going to sneak up on anybody this year.”

“Let’s get to the playoffs and see what happens.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.