Semoball

Dexter looks for another successful campaign

DEXTER -- Entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Dexter Bearcats, Aaron Pixley officially has the ball rolling at his hometown school.

With a career mark of 37-25, Pixley has never had a losing season as he consistently pumps out competitive teams on a yearly basis. Heading into the 2006 season, Pixley once again appears to have the ingredients for another successful campaign.

With the exception of Carr Trophy winner Alex Becker, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards with 25 touchdowns, the team returns the bulk of last year's top offensive performers that led the team to its second district title in Pixley's tenure. But, like in the past, the Bearcats will rely on a stingy defense to win ballgames.

"Our greatest strength should be defense," said Pixley. Typically at Dexter since I've been here our defense has been a little bit better than our offense anyway. It hasn't changed since I've been here. I have a lot of experience in the skill positions coming back on offense. They're pretty good leaders and they know how to play the game."

OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Josh Stevens headlines the returning offensive players after throwing for 972 yards, completing 73-of-163 passes. He tossed 10 touchdown passes with only six interceptions. Stevens will have a wide range of targets to throw.

"We've got four or five receivers that we feel like can run good routes and catch the football," said Pixley. "That's probably the deepest we've been at receiver since I've been here. I'd like to throw it more, but this is Dexter. We're going to run the football. But we should be better in our passing game and that's what we're looking for."

Pixley's son, Drew Pixley, and senior classmate Logan Swindle are the top two returning receivers, combining for 19 receptions for 264 yards and two scores. Junior Bobby Rawson and senior Chad Ventura provide depth at the receiver spots.

"We expect Chad Ventura to step up and be a good player," said Pixley. "He's our fastest player -- our best track guy in the spring. He's looked very good in the preseason so far."

Junior tight ends Drew Satterfield and Eric Windham could also see some balls thrown their way. Satterfield caught his only pass for a 7-yard touchdown last year.

Replacing Becker at running back will be Chad's brother, Zach Ventura, who rushed for 172 yards on 36 carries with a touchdown last season. Junior David Hessling will also see plenty of carries and will challenge Ventura for the starting spot. Taking over the fullback duties is senior Anthony Alsup.

"I've been pretty pleased with my running backs coming in," said Pixley. "Any time you lose a kid like Alex Becker's caliber it's always a shot to your team. I feel like I've got some good kids coming up that will run the ball well for us too. It's just we have to make sure we're running hard all the time. We can't be tip-toeing. The key to that is getting good offensive linemen and them doing their job."

SEMO Central Conference Lineman of the Year Alex Watkins is the top returner up front for the Bearcats.

Joining him in the trenches will be seniors Thomas Fowler and Thomas Espey and juniors Kevin Hart and Andrew Cato.

The unit won't rank as the biggest Pixley has had, but they are experienced and tough.

The 2006 Dexter Bearcats

"We don't have much size," said Pixley. "We are not a big football team this year. Probably the smallest in overall physical size since I've been here. But definitely not my weakest. This football team is very strong. I'm looking for my offensive line to step up. We're replacing three of the five. It's still an ongoing evaluation with those guys."

DEFENSE

The Bearcat defense, which statistically ranked as the best in the Central Division last year, returns nearly every key contributor from last year.

"We've got some people back on defense that have been there who are veterans," said Pixley. "I've got three out of the four defensive linemen back, I've got two starting linebackers back from last year and one back that actually played and started the last few games last year."

Watkins and Alsup are locked in at the defensive tackles with Satterfield manning one of the defensive end positions. Windham and Spencer Harris are battling for the other defensive end spot.

Taylor Joyner, Zach Ventura and Hessling all saw extensive time at linebacker last year. Junior Glen Johnson will join the mix this year.

Drew Pixley returns at free safety with Chad Ventura, Swindle and Rawson all slated to get plenty of minutes at the corner back spots.

"Defensively, we should be very competitive," said Pixley. "I'm concerned a little bit with a couple spots at linebacker, but we do have pretty good experience there."

SPECIAL TEAMS

Satterfield will take over the place kicking duties while Swindle will handle extra points.

Pixley is still searching for a punter. Drew Pixley has one of the strongest legs on the team, but he also serves as the team's long snapper. Pixley indicated he may even dip into the freshman class if he has to.

SCHEDULE

Dexter replaced Gosnell, Ark., with Class 4 school Festus in Week 2. The rest of the schedule remains unchanged.

The early part of the schedule is difficult as the Bearcats open with Ste. Genevieve and follow that up with the aforementioned Festus Tigers and local Class 4 rivals Sikeston and Poplar Bluff in Weeks 3 and 4 respectively.

Ste. Genevieve was responsible for two of Dexter's four losses last year, including a lopsided defeat in a Class 3 sectional game.

"Our schedule is very tough," said Pixley. "The first half of our schedule is against some bigger schools with great athletes and great coaches. We're challenged every week."

OUTLOOK

The Bearcats have the talent and the coaching to win a second consecutive SEMO Central Division championship and also repeat as the Class 3, District 1 champion. Last year Dexter went virtually unchallenged through both the conference and district with only Perryville putting a legitimate scare into the Bearcats, who managed to hold on for a 6-0 victory in the regular season finale.

"Any team that wins a championship the year before, every team they play puts a bulls-eye on them," said Pixley. "We're no different. That's part of it and we accept that. Hopefully we can get back to that level. That's what every coach is trying to do, trying to coach to a championship level."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: