Dexter, Missouri – Touchdown after touchdown after touchdown was scored at Charles Bland Stadium Friday night.  But that’s ok with Bearcat fans because the DHS Varsity football team scored so many points against the Charleston Bluejays that they came close to breaking a school record.  It was hard to keep up with all the scoring with touchdowns, extra points, and safeties, but it was truly a magical night to remember for Bearcats of all ages. 

On the very first possession for Dexter, Ethan Stevens #7 ran the ball for a 60-yard touchdown followed by a Jason Jarrell kick to put the Bearcats on the board first with a 7-0 lead. 

Just two and half minutes later Carson Dean ran up the middle for a two-yard touchdown and another perfect kick by Jason Jarrell.  The Bearcats felt alive, the crowd was excited and they knew they had a chance to win this game.

Dexter scored two back-to-back safeties with 5:36 and 3:02 remaining in the first quarter.  Bluejays’ quarterback Evan Burton was sacked by Jason Mattison in the end zone and 90 seconds later another sack by Tyler Stevenson added a total of 4 points to the board for Dexter.

Peyton Pollock scored with 33 seconds left in the first quarter when he ran the ball 15 yards for another Bearcat touchdown.  Jason Jarrell hit one between the uprights giving the Bearcats a 25-0 lead. 

The boys in blue weren’t quite satisfied with their performance with only 19 seconds left in the quarter; the Bluejays ran the kick-off return for 92 yards to score their first touchdown of the game; however the extra point was no good.

Still seconds left on the clock the Bearcats return the ball at the buzzer Carson Dean squeezed another run for a two-yard touchdown.  Another great kick by Jason Jarrell giving the Dexter Bearcats a nice 32-6 lead.  Something they haven’t felt all season.

“We came out and played hard,” commented Dexter’s head football coach Justin Peden.  “We’ve been preaching playing hard all four quarters.  We came out in the first quarter strong and I think that kind of steamrolled our plays later on.  The kids played a good game.  I am very proud of our execution on offense and we stopped the on defense.”

The Bearcats scored three additional touchdowns in the second quarter. 

Carson Dean ran the ball right for a short 1-yard touchdown.  Jason Jarrell’s kick was good.  Dexter 39, Charleston 6.

Jason Jarrell rant the ball left for a 4-yard touchdown and his extra point kick was good as well.  Dexter 46, Charleston 6.

Bluejay’s Jemerious Fisher punted the ball to the ‘Cats 33 yard line with Ethan Stevens returning the ball all the way back and into the end zone.  Jason Jarrell’s kick after was good.  Dexter 53, Charleston 6. 

“We looked at the defense to see what they were going to give us,” Peden stated. “It was there and our offensive coordinator coach (Bryce) Beck made the call.  I think they were expecting us to either throw deep or pound it.  I don’t know, but we caught the edge.  Ethan Stevens is a really fast kid.  He can move so once he catches that edge he’s gone.  It worked for us and kind of set the tone for the night.”

The Bluejays scored their second touchdown on the kick-off return with Tyler Craig taking the ball into the end zone.  Evan Burton’s pass to Tennarious Ewing was good giving them 8 points.  Half-time score - Dexter 53, Charleston 14.

With a very nice lead, Dexter's head coach Justin Peden began adding underclassmen to the mix giving them much needed field time while the clock ran throughout the fourth quarter to end the game. 

“If you are a young guy, you always want to get in,” Peden said.  “Our young guys got good game experience.  One of the great things about coaching is when you are able to get a kid in who is a freshman.  It’s a big thing when you can let them feel that enjoyment.  I was pleased with the young guys and their effort.  They could have come out on defense and let Charleston score, but they kept stopping them.”

Dexter kept the ball on the ground throughout most of the game.  The Bearcats only three times for a total of 55 yards.  At least eight backs carried the ball for a total of 319 yards.  Carson Dean and Jason Jarrell each ran for a team-high three touchdowns.

Dean carried the ball six times accumulating 37 yards, Jarrell had seven carries for 66 yards, Tim Spence had nine carries for 49 yards, and Peyton Pollock had eight carries for 79 yards.

“We wanted to keep the ball on the ground, especially in the second half,” continued Peden.  “You don’t want to start throwing the second half when you are ahead.  We wanted to make sure we were doing it the right way.  The first half we were going to take what they gave us.  If they are going to give us running lanes we are going to take them.  We were able to run the ball effectively and I think that’s a testament to the backs and lineman working hard, looking at film, and talking to each other.  It is starting to come full circle. Our line did a great job tonight and I am really proud of them.”

Jason Jarrell continued to have an awesome night for the Bearcats.  He scored the only points of the game in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters and he had a perfect 9 for 9 with extra point kicks.   In the 3^rd quarter he ran the ball in for a 3-yard touchdown, then kicked the extra points to add 7 points to the scoreboard.  In the 4^th quarter he ran the ball for 28-yard touchdown and kicked the extra point to help advance the Bearcats to a final 67-14 victory.

Bo McMullin led the Bearcat defense with a total of eight tackles.  Jake Adams had seven tackles.  River Chism had five tackles.  Jason Mattison and Austin Aldridge had four tackles each and Tyler Stevenson finished the game with four tackles, 2 sacks and fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.  There was a total of 41 team tackles distributed among 22 athletes!

“We have played really well defensively all year,” Peden said.  “They had two first downs. (Speaking of Charleston).  One was on a penalty.  You cannot fault that.  Defensively we were lights out tonight.  The guys have been working hard to be aggressive defensively.  We want to attack, attack, attack!” 

The stage is set for Week #4 with Dexter (1-2) traveling to Sikeston (2-1) to take on the Bulldogs!  Cape Central defeated Sikeston 47-7 Friday night.   It's CATS vs DOGS week and we hope the CATS come out on top!

“We've got to have a good week of practice, game plan, watch film, and keep the intensity we had this week.  We’ve got to make sure we are ready to go.  Sikeston is a good football team.  I think we will be prepared and the kids will be prepared because they will be up for it.  Now that they believe we can compete with people because we competed with Ste. Gen and Bluff and won tonight.  They want to get a taste of pulling big wins out!” continued Peden.

Dexter currently is 1-0 in the SEMO Conference Central standings.  Caruthersville is 1-0, Kennett 0-1, and Charleston is 0-1 in the Central standings.

“I am excited for our conference games.  I think we have a legitimate shot to win conference and these guys will be able to hang their hats on that.  Kennett’s tough and Caruthersville’s tough.  I have watched film on New Madrid and they are athletic and their skill guys can fly.  It’s not going to be easy by any means, but I think we have a legitimate shot to be conference champions.  The guys know that too because they study the film. They know it and we know it so we have just got to go out there and do it.”

Final Score  Dexter 67, Charleston 14

Charleston    6   8   0   0  -  14

Dexter         32  21  7  7  -  67 

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

DX - Ethan Stevens 60 run (Jason Jarrell Kick Good), 9:41 (7-0 DX)

DX - Carson Dean 2 run fumble recovered by Tyler Stevenson (Jarrell kick Good), 7:09 (14-0 DX)

DX - Charleston Safety, 5:36 (16-0 DX)

DX - Charleston Safety, 3:02 (18-0 DX)

DX - Peyton Pollock 15 run, (25-0 DX), 0:33

CH - Tyler Craig 92 return (conversion no good), 0:19 (25-6 DX)

DX - Dean 2 run (Jarrell kick Good), 0:00 (32-6 DX)

Second Quarter

DX - Dean 1 run (Jarrell kick Good), 7:00 (39-6 DX)

DX - Jarrell 4 run (Jarrell kick Good), 4:24 (46-6 DX)

DX - Stevens 67 return (Jarrell kick Good), 2:40 (53-6)

CH - Craig 75 return (conversion good), 2:30 (53-14 DX)

Third Quarter

DX - Jarrell 3 run (Jarrell kick Good), 4:44 (60-14 DX)

Fourth Quarter

DX - Jarrell 28 run (Jarrell kick Good) 11:38 (67-14 DX)

Team Statistics:

Individual Player Statistics:

Rushing - (Charleston) Jeremy Tucker 8-(-7), Tim Bruce 7-4, Evan Burton 6-(-13), Tennarious Ewing 5-(-3), Tyler Craig 1-9, Jemerious Fisher 1-5. (Dexter) Tim Spence 9-49, Peyton Pollock 8-79, Jason Jarrell 7-66, Carson Dean 6-37, Dalton Twomey 4-13, Jake Adams 2-15, Ethan Stevens 1-60, Ben Sindle 1-0, Team 1-0.

Passing - (Charleston) Evan Burton 3-8-0 = 21. (Dexter) Peyton Pollock 2-3-0 = 30.

Receiving - (Charleston) Tyler Craig 2-12, Tennarious Ewing 1-9. (Dexter) Payton Tinnin 1-25, Gavin White 1-18, Austin Aldridge 1-12.

Punting - (Charleston) Jemerious Fisher 6-130, Evan Burton 1-36. (Dexter) Ethan Stevens 1-52.