Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcat football team will open their pre-season at the Sikeston Jamboree on Friday, August 17, 2018 at 6 p.m.  Sikeston, Fredericktown and Caruthersville will also be participating. The Bearcat season will look a little different this year the the removal of Sikeston and Poplar Bluff and the addition of Salem and Doniphan.  Both of those teams will have new varsity teams.  Dexter will host Salem in their home opener on August 31st and homecoming will be against Doniphan on September 21st.

Aaron Pixley returns at head football coach for the Dexter Bearcats.

In his first year as the Dexter Head Coach, Pixley had a team shirt that stated his philosophy toward the game of football, and obviously life.  The slogan read "Never Accept Mediocrity".

His thirteen seasons at the gridiron master has provided our community many exciting Friday nights.  His record tells the story with 78 wins which is a record for any Head Coach at Dexter HIgh School.  His two best seasons were in 2002 in his third year as the head coach, the Bearcats had a season of 8-3 and then in 2010 was perhaps his most memorable year with a record of 8-5 and playing in the Missouri State Quarterfinals. 

The Bearcats have scored 3,285 points with their opponents scoring 2,670.  In addition, they have been able to experience the joys of victory with three titles as SEMO Conference Champions, 2002, 2005 and 2011 under Pixley.  The Bearcats won four District Playoffs, 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2011, with 2010 making it to the State Quarterfinal. 

Dexter will also feature a new quarterback in the 2018 season with the graduation of Ben Sindle last May.  Haden Hillis, a junior, who did not play football his sophomore year will lead the Bearcats. Sophomore Peyton Driskill, will be Hillis' back-up.

Starting linebackers Jett Featherston and Corbin Strong are back and defensive backs Nate Gargas and Seth Rogers are also returning to the field.  Braxton Foster a defensive end and linemen Luke Boyer, Colten Gibson, and Brock Simmons are also returning.  Caleb Hoggard also returns at running back. At this time Ernesto Rivera is out with an injury.

Gargas and Rogers will also return at wide receiver.  Many Bearcats will fulfill double duty on the field this year with only 34 athletes coming out to practice.  Of those there are 15 seniors on the team.

The Bearcats will open at Ste. Genevieve on August 24th and will travel to Caruthersville on September 28th, and Malden on October 19th. They were unable to find a team to fill week #4 and will have only eight games during the regular season before heading into District play on October 25th.  MSHSAA will not assign districts until Friday August 17th.

Freshmen: Braxton Greenfield, Camden Riley, Harrison Pennington, Taylor Condict, Carter Pennington, Connor Brown, Ayden Walters, Jessie Still, Austin Stieferman, Francois-Haasbroek-Wirz, Rylan Muzny, Josh Williamson, Brayden Kipper, and Damon Helton.

Sophomores: Jacob Medler, Peyton Driskill, Kele Matthews, Michael Smith, Alex Townsend, C.J. Greene, Colton Evans, Luke Blocker, Luke Moore, Corey Hawkins, Caleb Coons, Bradyn Crockett, Malachi Harp, and Ethan Tracy.

Juniors: Haden Hillis, Mason Keena, Ryder Foster, Parker VanSlyke, Matt Agey, Austin Guy, and Josiah Payne.

Seniors: Ernesto Rivera, Justin Kenley, Nate Gargas, Caleb Hoggard, Seth Rogers, Corbin Strong, Braxton Foster, Dalton Warren, Jett Featherston, Shawn Chambers, Colten Gibson, A.J.Garrett, Brock Simmons, Jake Harris, and Luke Boyer.

2018 Varsity Football Schedule

6 p.m. 8/17 Jamboree at Sikeston (A)

7 p.m. 8/24 at Ste. Genevieve (A)

7 p.m. 8/31 vs Salem (Home Opener)

7 p.m. 9/7 at NMCC (A)

9/14 Open Date

7 p.m. 9/21 vs Doniphan (Homecoming & Tailgate)

7 p.m. 9/28 at Caruthersville (A)

7 p.m. 10/5 vs Kennett (Home)

7 p.m. 10/12 vs Park Hills (Home & Senior Night)

7 p.m. 10/19 at Malden (A)

7 p.m. 10/26 District (TBA) 

2018 JV Football Schedule (games begin at 6 p.m.)

Mon 8/27 at Malden (A)

Mon 9/10 at NMCC (A)

Mon 9/17 at Poplar Bluff (A)

Mon 9/24 at Doniphan (A)

Mon 10/1 vs Caruthersville (Home)

Mon 10/8 vs Kennett (Home)

Mon 10/15 vs Sikeston (Home)