Bearcat FB working as if it is a known entity, because it now is

Third-year Dexter High School football coach Chad Jamerson speaks to a group of players in the Bearcat weight room at a recent Combine held at the school.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The big question facing the Dexter High School football program in 2024 is which is more difficult, the climb up a notch in success or maintaining that level of achievement?

“That is a good question,” third-year Bearcat football coach Chad Jamerson said recently.

Jamerson has had his players working hard since January in an effort to build upon last season’s six-win season, which was the most in 12 years.

“You are always battling that mindset,” Jamerson said. “Everybody wants to be proud of what they have accomplished. You can talk about what you have accomplished, but you can’t really talk about what you are going to accomplish.”

Jamerson had his players participate in a recent Combine session along with athletes from Caruthersville, Fredericktown, and Charleston in order to give themselves a “measuring stick” for the progress that they have made this off-season. What the Bearcat players are realizing is that following a successful season, the perception of Dexter football has been altered.

“That is one of the things that has pushed us,” Jamerson said. “Last year, our motto was beware of the underdog, because we felt we were the underdog.

“Now, we still have that motto, but it is less of a warning to other people and more of a warning to ourselves.”

The perception of the Bearcats probably changed when they opened last season with a 26-14 win over Scott City, which ultimately won nine games. Victories over Caruthersville and traditional-power Kennett, as well as playing an eight-win Ste. Genevieve team to a one-point loss in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 Tournament just added to how Dexter is going to be prepared for this fall by its opposition.

“People know who we are now,” Jamerson said. “We are a quality football program, and we can play some good ball.

“But we’ve got to be aware of the opponents.”

Dexter graduated 13 really talented seniors, but it also has an abundance of talent returning, including seniors Nolan Alford, Jett Grams, Jackson Howard, Logan Pullum, Lee-Michael McDonald, Caden Lee, among others.

“Our kids have done a really good job of flipping that (mental) switch at the turn of the year,” Jamerson said. “Our kids working in the weight room has never been an issue at Dexter. That is a tradition that Dexter has had forever, and it has continued with this group.

“You can see that they are ready to work. Hopefully, that continues through this summer and catapults us into the season.”

Dexter begins officially practicing on Monday, August 12, with its regular-season opening game at Malden on August 30 at 7 p.m.