Dexter FB continues on historic tear after dismantling once-dominant foe

Dexter senior offensive lineman Caden Lee (56) shoves aside a Central (Park Hills) defender while Bearcat senior quarterback Jackson Howard signals a touchdown on Friday at Charles Bland Stadium.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

DEXTER – The MSHSAA web site only ventures back through the 2010 football season for the program at Dexter High School. However, what is indisputable is the fact that the Bearcats are immersed in historic territory this season.

The Class 3 No. 3-ranked Bearcats improved to 8-0 with a 35-12 throttling of Central (Park Hills) (yes, THAT Central Park Hills) at Charles Bland Stadium to put themselves just one game shy of completing a perfect regular season.

“The good thing about our kids and our coaches is that we found a way,” third-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said following the win.

The Class 3 No. 9-ranked Rebels (5-3) altered their offense, according to Jamerson, in hopes of trying to stymie the stifling Dexter defense, but it was to no avail.

Central (Park Hills) had beaten Dexter six consecutive times and entered Friday’s game averaging nearly 25 points per game and managed just half of that total.

“They came out and did a lot of things on offense tonight that they had not done all season long,” Jamerson said of the Rebels. “They used a lot of empty quads, they were unbalanced and had some hidden receivers. They used a weird lineman screen.”

None of it worked in the end, though.

The Bearcats sent a message from the opening kickoff – literally – that the Rebel domination wasn’t going to continue this season.

Bearcat sophomore Jaxon Miller scooped up the first of several muffed kickoffs by the Rebel receiving team and ran it back for a touchdown, which was ruled illegal (you can’t advance a recovered fumble on a kickoff). However, following a nice 18-yard scamper by senior Lee-Michael McDonald, Bearcat senior Nolan Alford barreled in from four yards out for a 6-0 margin less than a minute into the game.

Central (Park Hills) countered with a drive to the Dexter four-yard line, but the Bearcats halted that advance without a point allowed.

Bearcat sophomore defensive back Houston Neely nabbed the first of his two interceptions, this one at his seven-yard line, and that ultimately led to a 28-yard field goal by senior Parker King and a 9-0 Bearcat advantage midway through the second quarter.

“How huge has Parker King been this year in big-time games,” Jamerson asked. “He has come out and performed, not only on extra points, but he has also performed on field goals.”

The Rebels got on the board midway through the third quarter, but the Dexter defense limited them to just six points by stopping the extra-point attempt.

Dexter junior Devin Turnbo added a score on a five-yard run late in the third quarter for a 16-6 lead, and after another Neely interception led to a short run by senior Jett Grams that made it a 22-6 game early in the final period.

“Houston is a big-time player in big-time moments,” Jamerson said.

Central (Park Hills) managed a short touchdown run with 8:40 left in the game, but Dexter senior quarterback Jackson Howard hit McDonald for a 43-yard score with 5:55 remaining, and Turnbo added a 27-yard touchdown run 2:30 later for the final margin.

Grams led the Bearcat runners with 93 yards while McDonald (32 yards), Alford (26 yards), and Turnbo (82 yards) also were productive.

McDonald caught seven passes for 100 yards while Howard completed 11 of his 18 tosses for 134 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Dexter gained 237 yards on the ground while Alford paced the defense with 11 tackles.

Miller added seven defensive stops while junior linebacker Jason Hervoyavich, Turnbo, and senior defensive back Christian Wirz each had six tackles.

The Bearcats have already clinched the SEMO Conference Central Division title, and with a three-game lead over the Rebels in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 standings, will most assuredly earn the top spot in the District.

Dexter will try and close, perhaps, its only perfect regular season in program history on Friday (7 p.m.) against Scott City (5-3) at Charles Bland Stadium.

“It’s a game that is going to be here at home, thank goodness,” Jamerson said.

Dexter has won six of its last seven games at home dating back to last season.