By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Dexter Bearcats will face a tough test on the road Friday night in the Park Hills Central Rebels.


The ‘Cats ended the Rebels’ season during the 2010 Class 3 playoffs in a 28-20 game played at Park Hills. Looking at the final score, it was a game that either team could have won.

“We’ve gotta go to their house. They’re going to be extremely fired up and ready to play,” head coach Aaron Pixley said. “The last time we played them was there in a very good playoff game; a game they think the should have won.”

The Rebels opened their 2011 campaign with a 28-13 win against St. Vincent; the Rebels’ backfield duo - Cody Harrison and Daniel Marler - rushed for over 100 yards each, as PHC racked up 353 total yards on the offensive.


After opening the season against Ste. Genevive - a team that runs a spread offense and attempted 25 passes in 43 plays 0 the Bearcats will have to make some extreme defensive adjustments for the Rebels.

Park Hills runs an offense reminiscient of Gosnell, Ar. (a DHS opponent from days long gone) featuring multiple double-tight sets, and almost always have three backs in the backfield. This, coupled with a massive offensive line - the Rebels guards each weigh in at over 300 lbs. - and two big, physical running backs, could be problematic for any team’s defense, but Coach Pixley feels his squad is up to the task.

“It’s a different football team to prepare for, that’s for sure. It’s not like we had three weeks to prepare for Park Hills like we did with Ste. Gen,” Pixley noted, “but practice has been better each day.”


 “Park Hills is scary because there’s a lot of trash to run through. If you’re in the wrong position and the running back is in the right position, hits a lane, then he can pop it out there, and if theres no one there, he’s gone.”

“They’ll spread you out a little bit, but they really like going double-tight with three backs. Two of their running backs are over 215 lbs.,” Pixley added. “Their line is big, their tight ends are huge. They’re going to try to make a point of getting physical, downhill, and really running hard and grinding it out. They’re going to want to run the clock out, so we’ll have to swarm and be physical on defense, but I think we’ve adjusted well to it.”

“They’re a very good football team, very big powerful team, and we’re going to have to play to win,” Pixley added. “They’re going to be gunning for us, and our kids have to be ready for it. We’re going to up there and get off that bus ready to play hard for four quarters, because they’re going to bring it all night long.”

Kickoff for the contest is set for 7:00 p.m.

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By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - The Dexter Lady ‘Cat tennis team split the match with the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules Thursday (Sept. 1) afternoon.


The JV squad defeated the Mules 8-3 and moved to 2-0 on the season. The doubles duo of Alison Jarrell and Paige Patterson, along with Mollie Whitehead and Taylor Owens, had the best JV doubles matches, winning 6-0 and 6-1, respectively. In JV singles, Owens and Whitehead both blanked their opponents 6-0.

On the Varsity side, Jamie Manuel and Hailee Hubbard dominated in their doubles match, winning 8-1. Baylee Cooper and Erica Morgan won a very close 9-7 doubles match.

Senior Shanna Gant battled back from an early deficit to win her singles match in a tiebreak.

“Varsity lost 4-5, [but we] played well....Bluff is tough,” coach Leanne Dooley said.   “Shanna Gant came from behind, 1-4, to win 9-7, and the others played hard also.”

The Lady ‘Cats next match is scheduled for Tuesday (Sept. 6), when the Kennett Lady Indians come to town.


The match is set to get underway at 4:00 p.m.

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Photo above Senior Shanna Gant fires back a shot during the Lady ‘Cats’ match against Poplar Bluff on Thursday afternoon. Gant, and partner Jessica Snider, fell to Caroline Penney and Victoria Bottorff in doubles action.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Dexter Bearcats were hard at work preparing for their next opponent Wednesday evening. Head coach Aaron Pixley noted the Park Hills Central Rebels as being "a completely different team" than the Ste. Gen. Dragons - and for good reason.
The 'Cats won't see a spread-style offense when they make the trip to Park Hills Friday night; they'll see double-tight, power running formations.
Photo Above: head coach Aaron Pixley and defensive coordinator Rick Schwab go over some defensive adjustments with the d-line.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Lady ‘Cats took to the courts in their second match in as many days this afternoon.


After opening the season with a 9-0 victory over the Charleston Lady Bluejays, the Lady ‘Cats moved on to face the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs - and they didn’t let up; Dexter’s JV and Varsity squads won every match.

The ‘Cats faced some tougher competition against the Bulldogs, with some close finishes in the single’s matches.

Jamie Manuel, Baylee Cooper, and Jessica Snider all participated in the most competitive singles matches for the Lady ‘Cats, with Snider coming up with more heroics in another come-from-behind victory.


“She had a very tough match again,” coach Leann Dooley said of Snider. “She had to come from behind at the end and win a tie-break.”

“Baylee [Cooper] had a very strong match,” Dooley added. “She also had to come from behind.”

Dexter’s JV squad saw their first action of the season, and Dooley seemed equally pleased with her younger girls.


“JV played great tennis,” Dooley noted. “Their hard work is paying off.”

The Lady ‘Cats will be on the road Thursday (Sept. 1) afternoon when they face off against the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules.


The match is set to get underway at 4:00 p.m.

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Photo Above:
Senior Jessica Snider returns a shot during her singles match against Kelsey Dial. Snider won the match 9-8, after winning the tie-break game 7-2.

Fall is a busy time for all ages around Dexter, and nothing is different for the Dexter Parks & Recreation Little League Football Program.

With sign-ups complete and players all assigned to their respective teams, Tuesday night was the first step in realizing a dream for many of these young athletes: to one day become a Bearcat under the lights of Charles Bland Stadium on Friday nights.

The little league football program was started in the 1970‘s. A group of businessmen and dads from the Dexter area noted that there was no such program for their sons to learn the game in. They all came together to purchase the equipment and organize what is now known as the Dexter Little League Football program.

Names such as Sonny Jones, Darrell Hicks, and Marty Poetz, among others, have long since been forgotten for their contribution to getting the league up and running, but the excitement for the league has not changed over the years.

Under the supervision of the Parks and Rec Department of Dexter, Jamie Rowe and her team are extremely busy continuing the tradition. There is a tremendous amount of work as equipment is handed out, forms are processed, and kids are divided up into teams.

The league has always been structured around teaching the techniques and fundamentals of football. Obviously, the spirit of competition never leaves the game, but the DPR’s leadership has done a great job over the years, keeping a balance of competition and education within the league.

One of the greatest events this league provides is the 'Day With Bearcat Football' program. For several hours, one Saturday morning a year, these youngsters hit the DHS practice field to learn from none other than the Dexter Bearcat Varsity Football team, under the supervision of the DHS coaching staff.

Practices began Tuesday (Aug. 30) night for all four teams in the league. Coaches for the 2011 Season are:



The young Bearcats will practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until their season begins on Saturday, September 17, 2011. The season opener will find the Red Team vs the Black Team at 9:30 AM followed by the Blue Team vs the Green Team at 11:30 AM.

Make plans to come out and support the young gridiron gang on Saturdays throughout the fall at Charles Bland Stadium. The games are always fun and entertaining for everyone, especially the annual night game when these youngsters get a taste of the ‘Friday Night Lights’. This year, the night games will be held on two separate nights on September 27th and 29th.

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For the full 2011 Little League Football schedule, click here.
For the full 2011 Little League Football roster, click here.

Thanks to SMT Reader Leigh Ann Kincy for the pictures!