Article Written by

ShowMe Times Writer Jessica Snider

The Dexter Bearcats participated in the annual jamboree last Friday night where the team showed off some young talent. After losing many seniors, some inexperienced players are having to step onto the field and be leaders. Many of the players have never experienced a Friday night under the lights and on the field. The Bearcats looked ready to fight at last week’s jamboree.

One of the standouts was junior Cody Neldon who had two great catches thrown from quarterback DJ Dowdy.

“Dowdy threw some really good balls,” said Coach Aaron Pixley.  Pixley continued by saying, “We’re not very deep.  Holden Bruce didn’t play at the jamboree, and neither did Nathan Cox.  Cox just moved to Dexter and he has ability.”

According to Coach Pixley, none of the teams last Friday night were very physical, including Dexter. “I like my football team, but they need to change their mindset. They need to be ready to play. We need that eye of the tiger look before the games."

"They’re good kids and they’re all coachable,” concluded Pixley.

The Dexter Bearcats will kick-off the season on the road at St. Genevieve this Friday August 24th with a 7:00 P.M. start time.

(PICTURE ABOVE:  The picture above is of Dexter Bearcat returning lineman, Dylan Aaron.  Dylan is a Senior this year and will be an anchor for the 'Cats on the Offensive Line.)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Four returning starters.

Four returning starters are all the Dexter Bearcats will have on the football field during the annual preseason jamboree, held Friday (Aug. 17) night at East Prairie High School.

After posting a 9-2 record during the 2011 season, the 'Cats lost 18 seniors - 16 of which either started or saw extensive playing time - to graduation. Head coach Aaron Pixley noted the inexperience of his very young team.

"It's a very inexperienced football team, on a Friday-night level. These kids have played football their whole lives, but there are very few who have played any varsity football; it's very different, and they're finding that out. They found that out at the contact camp over the summer, and they'll find it out tomorrow at the jamboree," he said during Thursday afternoon's DHS Fall Media Day. "They work hard, they're just green; a lot of it is inexperience, and a lot of it is youth. There are going to be a lot of young kids out there. We've never asked kids to win here - we've asked them to work hard and be disciplined. If they do that, I'm sure they'll be successful."

The 'Cats are seeking their third consecutive Class 3, District 1 Championship this season, and Pixley noted that mental preparation would be key to his team's success on and off the field.

"We're going into every game to win it, but most importantly, we need to go in to every game mentally prepared and ready to play hard," he said. "If they do that, not only will they be successful in the win-loss column, they will be successful in life; it teaches you to be prepared for life, it teaches you to work hard for something. Being a champion is hard to do, and you have to work your rear-end off for it."

Last season's backup quarterback, D.J. Dowdy, will fill the role of starting quarterback this season. Ryan Joyner, a standout linebacker for the 'Cats last season, will be filling in at tailback in 2012.

"D.J. has gotten better and better as we've gone on. He's really worked some mechanics out in his throwing motion, and he's throwing the ball really well right now because of it," Pixley said of his junior quarterback. "He's just as inexperienced as anyone else right now; he'll have some growing pains and he'll learn some hard lessons, but he's doing fine. Our backup quarterback [Ethan Stephens] will be a freshman, and it's only the second time I've had that happen."

"We're about three deep at tailback; one of those will also double as a fullback, and we also have a couple good fullbacks. Ryan Joyner has been 'waiting in the wings' for a chance; he' a solid tailback and he'll get a lot of reps. Brad Wick is another one; he's coming off an injury, we hope to keep him healthy because he can help us back there. We have a young kid in Dylan Bazarian that will be a good tailback one day," he continued. "Jonathan Foels and Brad Wick will be back at fullback; all five of those guys that we're rotating could play fullback as well. We have good young bodies in those positions; hopefully we can be good enough up front to get them some space, and they'll hit the right holes and run as hard as they can."

Joyner noted the rough transition in going from a solely defensive player in 2011 to playing both ways in 2012.

"It has been; you have to switch gears and learn how to hold the ball. Holding the ball and running for touchdowns," he commented. "You have to be [a leader] as one of the few starters coming back; it's something that gets thrown on your shoulders, and you have to bear it."

Chase Young, the lone returning wide receiver, also went through a bit of a transition during the offseason; Young was typically the third option in the 2011 passing game, after Tyler Miller and Jake Lee, but now he's looking to get more passes his way.

"It's a lot more pressure on you," Young said of the change. "Everybody younger than you is looking up to you. You have to know your routes, run them hard."

Dylan Aaron, the only returning player on the offensive line, noted the work ethic of his teammates in learning their positions up front. Chase Noe, who played exclusively on the defensive side of the ball last season, is now filling in at center on the o-line.

"They don't have as much experience, but I think they have the same work ethic that we had last year, which will help in the long run," Aaron said. "They'll turn out to be pretty good with some experience."

"I played a lot of snaps last year in scout team, I'm just working on refining it now," Noe said of the offensive line. "Defense, we're going to have to step up and be tough, we lost a lot of people last year. Offense is the same thing, we'll have to be strong. We only have two that played on Friday nights last year."

Pixley said that filling out the offensive and defensive lines has been one of the more difficult aspects of this off-season, and noted the progress that still needed to be made on both fronts.

"It's been hard; it's been very hard. It's gone from no shape to a better shape, but we're not there. We're a long way from it. This is one of the smallest teams I've had, especially on the line," he said. "The degree of explosion they have to have coming off in the running game, it's not there right now. Staying with your blocks until the whistle blows, thats something they're just not getting as a unit right now."

"Dylan Aaron is the only returning starter, and he was a great player for us last year. He's coming off a shoulder surgery; he looks fine, and we hope and pray he stays healthy," Pixley continued. "These other guys up front have to play up to the level he's played at. They're coming along; we've rotated some people in and out. THe starting line you see tomorrow night might not be the one you see at the end of the year; we're going to find the best five, good or bad."

The Bearcats will take the field for the first time in 2012 on Friday (Aug. 17) night at the Preseason Jamboree, held at East Prairie High School.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 90 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair on topwater baits early and late in day; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 88 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Cypress Lake: 86 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good in 2 - 8' depths on worms, crickets and stinkbaits; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 1 - 3' depths on jigs, worms and crickets; crappie slow in 1 - 3' depths on minnows and jigs; largemouth bass slow in 1 - 3' depths on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 85 degrees, low, clear; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill, redear sunfish and warmouth sunfish fair on jigs and crickets; all other species slow. Note: boaters be aware of tree stumps due to low water levels. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms, cut bait and stinkbait; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Perry County Lake: 87 degrees, clear; channel catfish fair on stinkbait; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 93 degrees, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 87 degrees, normal, black bass fair on plastic worms and crankbaits early and late; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; crappie fair using spider rigs early in the morning; bluegill fair using crickets; all other species slow.

Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 81 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye fair on crayfish colored tube baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): low, dingy; black bass fair on topwater lures in early morning; walleye fair on crankbaits; channel catfish fair on live bait and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species good; black bass best on soft plastics. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): rising, dingy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on worms and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on liver and cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): low, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 87 degrees, low, dingy; channel catfish fair on chicken liver, stinkbaits and worms; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and small sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/9/2012)

Anglers are invited to send pictures of their catch to the ShowMe Times - simply email a photo to SMT Sports Editor Andrew Cato, including your name, where the fish was caught, the species of the fish, and - if you care to share - what bait you were using!

The Dexter Bearcats kicked off the 2012 season on Monday (Aug. 6) with the first practices of the year. The 'Cats are hard at work preparing for the Preseason Jamboree, held August 17 at East Prairie, as well as the regular season opener at Ste. Genevieve on August 24.
Above, Defensive Coordinator Greg Lummukka goes over pass coverages with defensive back Brandon Berry (SMT Photo by Andrew Cato).

Dexter MO - Golf Pro John Barge reports that 16 teams were on hand at Hidden Trails Country Club to participate in the Bootheel Counseling Tournament today.  It was an incredible day for golf and all the participants had a great day on the links.
 
The  Bootheel Counseling Services 12th Annual  event was a 4-Person Scramble format.  The proceeds from this tournament are utilized to improve mental health service in the community.  Tournament organizers were Jennifer Hartlein and DeNeen Schweiss of Bootheel Counseling. 


Winners of today's tournament were:
 

Championship Flight:

1st  PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Bank of Advance - Alan Fowler, Steve Yeager, Roger Slinkard, Mike Gaylord  Score - 56

2nd PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Focus Bank - Don Burnett, Brian Cox,  +2    Score - 58
 

A Flight:

1st  PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Ponder Funeral Home -  Lonnie Ponder, Josh Gaus, Craig Wilson     Score - 63
 
2nd  PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Individuals -  Dean Bennett, Terri Bennett, Dan Dowdy, Dave Fleming     Score - 64
 

B Flight:

1st  PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Individuals  -  Wade Matthews, Kyle Matthews, Randy Long, Mark Shaffer   Score - 68
 
2nd  PLACE:  Team Sponsor:  Advantage Automotive  -   Charlie Long + 3    Score - 68
 

"Congratulations to all winners today," commented John Barge.  "It was a great day for golf".
 
Golf action will continue this weekend at Hidden Trails Country Club as the Men's Club Championship & Handicap Divisions will take place on Saturday & Sunday.  The tournament is open to club members and the entry fee is $40 per golfer.  Tee times will begin at 11 AM on Saturday and 10 AM on Sunday.   Members are encouraged to call John at the club to sign up.