By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats are looking regain that familiar growl they had at the end of last season.

After starting last season 1-3 and being outscored 114-63, the Bearcats won five of the next six games to finish 6-4.

A good start, as the season opens on the road Friday against St. Genevieve, is key to the rest of the schedule.

"It seems like that is kind of a broken record around here," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "We get off to slow starts and then we kind of pick up. It would be nice to get off to a fast start."

The Bearcats need to be dialed in mentally and physically to start the year, Pixley said.

"It is probably more important for us to play well and play hard early," Pixley said. "We try to win every game, don't get me wrong, but it is more important for us to be physical, mentally tough, and play hard early cause that sets us up down the road."

The Bearcats have junior quarterback Ben Mills under center to lead the team after starting every game last season. The Bearcats averaged 143.1 yards through the air last season and scored 18 touchdowns. However, the receiving corps from last year, most notably Bobby Rawson, has graduated.

"The quarterback is back, and he is going to do a fine job," Pixley said. "We just have to have another group step up and catch the football."

Three offensive lineman that protected Mills last season are back, which should lead to the line being a strong suit for the Bearcats.

"They should be better," Pixley said. "They have more experience. We just have to be a little more mentally tough at that position, so hopefully, they will."

The Bearcats also had a solid rushing attack last season. Senior Nick Hessling anchors a backfield that averaged 124.7 yards on the ground and crossed the goal line 18 times as a unit.

Dexter also has some new impact players on offense that could see significant time. Gary Summers is a 6-foot junior wide receiver that hasn't played since junior high and junior Ryan Windham will be on the edge of the offensive line as a tight end. On defense, the Bearcats return Jered Stephens as a defensive back and defensive end Caleb Stanley. Pixley also noted sophomore linebacker Corbin Matthews as someone to watch.

"On the defensive side, you talk about Corbin Matthews who didn't start last year early but wound up starting some games in the middle of the season," Pixley said. "He wound up playing pretty good for us as a freshman. That is the first time I have ever done that as a coach is play a freshman up on varsity like that."

The Bearcats have 17 seniors this season and Pixley is hoping they can step up and guide the younger players.

"There is some senior leadership there, all they need to do is lead," Pixley said. "That is something we try to work on every day is, be vocal, help these young kids out. Make sure they know they are part of something because without the young guys, our older guys can't succeed."

Dexter made the opener last season against St. Genevieve close but couldn't prevail as it fell, 40-35.

"The first quarter, we were down by about three touchdowns and we came together and played pretty well after that," senior running back Nick Hessling said. "We are preparing a lot sooner for them."

After the road game against St. Genevieve, the Bearcats will face Gosnell (Ark.) at home before heading on the road to Sikeston the third week of the season.

"They are all challenges, I don't know of one game really that is going to be easy for us," Pixley said.

The district games for the Bearcats should all be tough tests as well, Pixley said.

"Last year was the most competitive district that I'd seen in a long time," he said. "I felt like New Madrid was the class but Kennett and Perryville was tough and really gave us fits."

Last year, the Bearcats missed out on the playoffs as they lost to New Madrid 36-14 in the last game of the season to finish second in the district. The new MSHSAA playoff system now has the top two teams from each district making the playoffs. The fact that one more team from each district gets to extend its season is good, Pixley said.

"I know there are a lot of 9-1 football teams in the state that don't get to go to the playoffs," Pixley said. "It is going to be great for teams like that I believe. Right now, our kids are excited about it."

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