Alvirne High's Mitch Dobek is one of the state's top linebackers.

HUDSON – As far as athletes go, well, even Mitch Dobek admits to being unspectacular.

Pretty solid in intramural hoops at Alvirne High School, he throws the javelin in the 120s and the shot in 30s for the track team.

“I’m not the most athletic person,” said the 5-foot-8, 200-pounder.

There’s just so much more to playing middle linebacker than

athleticism.

A three-year starter, Dobek fits the gritty, nasty linebacker stereotype brilliantly,, almost too well in fact.

Sometimes, you don’t know how he makes plays. He just does, and there’s no better poster-child for the Broncos’ trademark resilience and never-quit attitude than this senior.

“I’m a hitter, but I try to play smart,” said Dobek, a self-professed student of the game having played it for 11 years – all at middle linebacker.

To be truthful, Dobek would do anything for this 2-1 team, which hosts ConVal tonight at 7 p.m.

Two weeks ago, he stepped up on the offensive line, filling in for an injured player and doubling his work load. No problem.

But coach Tarek Rothe was more than happy to see Dobek focus on what he does best, hitting people, in Saturday night’s huge win over Souhegan.

“You could see it right away. He was back to his old self out there, and we needed it,” said Rothe, whose club knocked the Sabers from the unbeaten ranks with the dramatic one-point win.

“He had a heck of a game for us.”

The numbers and the performance indicated that Dobek is well on his way to a second straight All-Division II South Conference first-team selection. Through three games, he has 20 solo tackles, 16 assists and three quarterback pressures.

“He is not a blitzer. He’s tremendous at reading,” said Rothe. “I’ve had very few linebackers that can read the way he does. He’s extremely intelligent and can attack the open window like no other.”

Dobek’s theory on why the Broncos are so mentally tough is as sound as any proposed.

First, there is the leadership that emanates from this senior-heavy roster. These kids have been through it all, including a rugged sophomore season.

“We never give up. It really shows through practice,” he said. “Sophomore year was difficult. We’d go all-out in practice, tried our best and we’d put everything out there but we just ran into better teams.

“Last year, there was a change of scenery. We played teams the school never played before. It was a new challenge, a new beginning for Alvirne.”

Dobek says football pretty much consumes his life away from the books. He spent the summer in training for the season and logging long hours as a food expediter for Chunky’s Pub-Cinema in Manchester.

By the way, if you ever pop in, Dobek recommends the chicken tenders or the chicken sandwich and gives the buffalo sauce two thumbs up.

The job is pretty much on hold now, though. He and the Broncos have work to do.

As euphoric as the ride to the Division II title game was for the Broncos, the feeling of the loss to Plymouth at UNH was simply unacceptable.

“It was heart-breaking. I remember I didn’t talk to anyone for days, not my friends, nobody,” said Dobek. “Now, our only goal is simple. Finish what we didn’t last year.”

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