The excitement is building this week at Dexter High School as preparations are finalized for the first football game of the season.

The Bearcats take on the Dragons from Ste. Genevieve this Friday with kick-off for the game at 7 p.m. in Charles Bland Stadium.

The DHS Marching Bearcat Band has been busy preparing for the halftime show. A crew of volunteer moms has been on hand after school each day this week to help new band members get their uniforms all in order. Band members have been busy throughout the week in preparation for the first field show.

The Bearcats go into the 2011 football season ranked in the top ten in the state in pre-season polls.

The Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters pre-season poll pegged the Bearcats in 9th place in Class 3 in its annual pre-season poll, receiving 27 first-place votes.

Ste. Genevieve, also in Class 3, did not place in the top 10, but did garner five first-place votes in the poll.

"Band mom" Janet Johns helps freshman Bearcat Marching Band member Brooks Propst get his band uniform. Band members are busy preparing for the first home football game of the season this Friday night. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)