Malden's Andy Matthews moves upfield against Dexter's Caleb Shafer Friday in Malden. (Alex Abate/DAR)

By ROB TATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

MALDEN -- It had been a bumpy road for the Dexter Bearcats leading up to Friday night.

Having no wins on the season -- let alone a lead at any time -- the Bearcats' fortunes changed with 28 first-half points in a 41-7 win over Malden.

It looked like it might be more of the same for Dexter, which has been plagued by turnovers this season. After holding Malden on its first drive of the game, the Bearcats were intercepted on their third play as Raymond Wilson batted down a Ben Mills pass and Green Wave defensive lineman Kwamena Bondzie intercepted it.

But Malden (1-4) couldn't do anything with the takeaway on the ensuing drive and Dexter's offense flourished from there, even though there were still a couple more mishaps to come in terms of turnovers.

"Any time you get a win, it's positive," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "Quite honestly, I was worried about (the game). When you're 0-4, you don't know how you're gonna respond."

Pixley got that answer on the Bearcats' next drive.

Dexter (1-4) breezed down the field on a 10-play, 83-yard drive that concluded with Nick Hessling scoring from 5 yards out. Quarterback Ben Mills was 4-for-4 on the drive with 63 yards passing.

After Dexter's Taylor Jarrell recovered a fumble on Malden's next drive, it took the Bearcats just two plays to score again as Hessling rushed for another touchdown from 10 yards out. a

The Bearcats' relentless attack continued in the second quarter. On their first series, Mills hooked up with tight end Caleb Stanley on a 4-yard touchdown to go up 21-0.

Two possessions later, the Bearcats found the end zone again as Seth McBride bulldozed through the line on fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line to go up 28-0.

DAR/Alex Abate Malden's Andy Matthews moves upfield against Dexter's Caleb Shafer Friday in Malden. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

Malden responded with an 11-play drive that was carried mostly by seniors Andy Matthews and Ryan Cain. Cain was a running back for Malden earlier in the season then was switched to a blocking tight end and was placed in the backfield again Friday night. He ran the ball three times on the drive for 32 yards.

Malden quarterback Kaleb Loughary then hooked up with Matthews on a 28-yard strike that also garnered a facemask penalty that got the Green Wave down to the Bearcats' 4-yard line. Three plays later, Loughary found Matthews, who made a nice grab behind him for a 1-yard touchdown reception with 16 seconds to in the half.

"Andy's been playing pretty good," Malden coach Gary Blaylock said. "Andy's a player, we had to move him back to safety tonight because we couldn't get nobody back there and then the running game opened up a little more for him."

Matthews finished the game with four catches for 54 yards receiving, five tackles and one interception in which he returned 25 yards.

Blaylock was also happy with the output of Cain in the backfield. The senior finished the game with six runs for 63 yards, good for 10.5 yards per carry. Cain was put back at running back after ground attack got off to a slow start Friday night

"We moved him to tight end for blocking, he caught a little dump last week (for a touchdown)," Blaylock said. "They covered him for that dump tonight. It wasn't open. We weren't real aggressive running (earlier in the game). So we put Cain back there and really the plays he ran good on were broken plays he had to bounce out on."

That's all the scoring Malden could come up with on the night.

Dexter ran a ball-control offense in the second half featuring backup running back Seth McBride who subbed in for Hessling in the first half. Hessling left the game after taking a helmet to his previously injured ankle.

McBridge ran a majority of his 23 carries for 103 yards on the night in the second half and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Mills scrambled for the other Dexter touchdown in the third quarter from 13 yards out.

"I felt like my offense executed pretty good, we had some plays in the passing game and then we just got on a roll with the run their in the second half," Pixley said. "(McBride) did a good job stepping in there and making some plays. McBride did not play football last year so he's still learning a bunch about football, too."

The score could of been far more out of hand for Malden in the first half if it wasn't for three turnovers caused. Along with Bondzie's pick earlier in the game, the Green Wave also got a fumble recovery by Travis Gregory and an interception by Matthews. In the second half, Loughary, from his safety position, picked off his counterpart Mills from his safety position for the fourth takeaway of the game for Malden.

Notes: Shortly after the game, Dexter sophomore Aaron Mace fell to the turf after shaking hands with Malden players and gathering with his team on the field. Pixley refused to speculate on what the injury was afterward but Mace's neck had to be immobilized and he was air-lifted to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Pixely also said it was precautionary and they think he'll be fine. … Mills finished the game throwing 10-for-16 for 162 yards. Jarrell had two fumble recoveries for the Bearcats. … Dexter will take on Charleston at home next week while Malden will host Kennett.