By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

SCOTT CITY -- The Bearcats got up quick and never looked back on Friday night as they dominated the Scott City Rams on both sides of the ball for a big 54-6 victory.

The Bearcats’ biggest concern coming into the game was their rush defense, after giving up over 400 yards on the ground last week against Sikeston. The ‘D’ showed up in a big way during the contest, allowing only 19 yards on the ground and holding Scott City’s offensive production to under 150 yards.


The ‘Cats were led on the defensive side of the ball by junior Ryan Joyner, with eight total tackles, and senior Tyler Miller, who had six total tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception for a 44 yard return.


Offensively, the ‘Cats exploded, scoring early and often throughout the first half. After a bad snap pushed the ‘Cats back to their 48 yard line, quarterback Cody Stevens (7-12 for 127 yards and 3 TD’s passing, 6 attempts for 64 yards rushing) was able to connect with Miller for a touchdown pass. Stevens was able to connect with Miller for another TD, as well as tight end Jake Lee for another six points.


The Bearcats’ one-two backfield punch was just too much for Scott City’s defense to handle; Nick Summers (9 attempts for 117 yards) and Josh Overall (9 attempts for 79 yards, 1 reception for 12 yards) were able to account for nearly 200 of Dexter’s 327 rushing yards and five TD’s in the contest.

---

---


Head coach Aaron Pixley was very pleased with his squad’s effort in the contest, and felt the game was a great way to bounce back from last week’s first loss of the season.

“We executed very well on offense. We did most everything we wanted to do in the passing game and the running game,” Pixley noted. “Defense shut the running game down, and that was great. We’re playing a team that runs the ball well, rushes for a lot of yards, and we’ve been giving up a lot of rushing yards lately, but our defense played excellent. [Scott CIty] got some passing yards late there, but it was a very well executed game. I’m glad we came out of the locker room fired up, because we need to be ready for this game to bounce back.”

With the ‘mercy clock’ running throughout the second half, Pixley was pleased that some of his younger players were able to get valuable experience under the Friday night lights.

“Starters in games like this, they don’t like coming out,” he added. “I’m very glad some of my young guys got their first chance to play this season in a varsity football game, but that’s all due to my starters executing and playing well.”


With the victory, the Bearcats move to 3-1 on the season and begin looking ahead to next week’s opponent - the Malden Green Wave.


Malden, also 3-1 on the year, have posted wins over Scott City, Piggott (Ark.) and Portageville. Their only loss so far came at the hands of the Hayti Indians in the second week of the season.


Pixley noted the added distraction of ‘Fair Week’ as a concern, but said the ‘Cats should have a good shot if they have a solid week of practice.

“It’s a week where we’ve got the fair, it’s a very distracting week. We have to really be disciplined all week long and not get distracted. We have to make sure we focus on what we’re supposed to do, and come out ready to play, because they’re a very good football team,” Pixley said. “We’re going to have to be ready Friday night or we’ll get in a rough spot. We just have to have a great week of practice.”

The ‘Cats will be back at home when they face Malden next week - kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

For the full breakdown of the game's stats, click here.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The DMS Football team put on an impressive show Thursday night at Charles Bland Stadium.


The eighth grade squad, coached by Leonard Morse, was able to put up a 20-6 victory over the Charleston Bluejays.


Ethan Stevens - the younger brother of DHS Quarterback Cody Stevens - rushed for a touchdown and connected with Austin Chesser and Jacob Crumley for two TD passes.

The young ‘Cats will be on the road for the rest of the season, with games at Kennett, Poplar Bluff, and Jackson.

---

Thanks to Bearcat Mom and SMT Reader Robin Rickman for the photo of the squad seventh grade squad in action earlier this season!

From the SBU Sports Information Department

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats enter into their 3rd game of the 2011 season after coming off a game where the Bearcats produced over 400 yards of total offense. The Bearcats look to continue their winning streak to three seasons after a record of (7-4) in the 2010 season. The Bearcats look to get on the right track with a victory over an MIAA opponent, one they will have to face next year when they rejoin the MIAA Conference.

Last week, the SBU offense was impressive, as they piled up over 400 offensive yards in the contest. The Bearcats were lead in passing by Dan Connors who was 14-23 for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The Bearcats were lead in receiving by Charles Johnson who had seven receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bearcats are poised to have their third consecutive winning season as they go into the next game this weekend against the Fort Hays Tigers. Coach Allen’s theme continues to be “Leave no Doubt”. He wants all of his athletes to have the mind set of “Every day you come to work, every day you’ve got to get better, every day you have to compete.”

The Coaches and the All-Time Series

Keith Allen has already engineered a significant turnaround at SBU, moving the ‘Cats from 0-11 his first year as interim coach, to 5-6 in 2008, to the winning record of 6-5 in 2009, and followed up with a 7-4 record in 2010. Allen served as defensive and recruiting coordinator before being named SBU head coach in 2007. His past coaching experience has included stops at San Jose State, Quincy, TCU and Oklahoma.

Chris Brown enters his first season as head coach of Fort Hays State in 2011. Brown came to Fort Hays State from Washburn University, where he served as the defensive coordinator and defensive secondary coach from 2002-2010 and assistant head coach in 2010.

Brown helped Washburn compile a 62-41 record in his nine-year span with the program, which included two NCAA playoff appearances and two bowl wins.

The all-time series between Fort Hays and Southwest Baptist is tied at 1-1. Fort Hays won the last match-up between these two teams in 2007 at Hays, 36-30.

---

Southwest Baptist University is a four-year evangelical Christian university that was established in 1878. The main campus is located about 30 minutes north of Springfield, Missouri, in Bolivar, a town of approximately 10,000 people.

DHS alum Glen Johnson is a defensive lineman for the Bearcats.

For more information on SBU Bearcat Athletics, visit sbubearcats.com.

Despite the Bearcats' tough loss in week three to the Sikeston Bulldogs, there were some stellar performances on the field. The ShowMe TImes is proud to present the Players of the Week!

DEFENSE - #10, Ryan Joyner
Joyner flew across the field during the entire contest, racking up 5 solo tackles (1 for a 3 yard loss) and swarmed to the football for several gang tackles.



OFFENSE - The "Big Nasty's" - the Offensive Line: #78, Zach Lacy; #55, Brandon Moore; #53, Jacob Stephens; #52, Dylan Aaron; #63, Theo Gaul.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

BERNIE -- The Lady ‘Cats have struggled in their last few games since the SEMO Spike Tournament, but Thursday night the ‘Cats showed great resolve and scratched out a three-set win against the Bernie Lady Mules.

In JV action, the ‘Cats won in straight sets - 25-0, 25-4 - to remain perfect on the season.


The Varsity squad showed a great defensive effort in their match, pulling out 17 blocks and 66 digs in the contest. The Mules were able to pull off an overtime win in the first set, 26-28, but the ‘Cats were able to pull out victories in the next two sets - 25-23, 25-21 - to take the match.

“It was a fun, intense game for both Dexter and Bernie.  I think the fans got what they paid for!  I feel the girls played as a true team tonight, and it showed,” head coach Lauren Hutchcraft said. “They got down in the second set, and they could have lost it.  However, they dug deep and turned it around to come out with the win in that set to take us to three!  I couldn't be more proud of them.”

Brittany Harris was a dominant defensive force in the match, accounting for 12 blocks.

The Lady ‘Cats will be in action again on Monday, when they host Woodland.

“I'm expecting a good game between both squads.  They had a good group of girls that played on their JV squad last year,” Hutchcraft noted.  “I'm expecting those girls have progressed in the off-season.  Again, I'm expecting the unexpected and not counting anyone out!  Like I've told my girls, 'On any given night, anything can happen,' so be prepared.”

JV action is set to begin at 6:00 p.m., with the Varsity game immediately following.