Dexter FB Notes: Bearcat seniors won't play in many bigger games than this

The Dexter High School football seniors pose prior to this season at Charles Bland Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Dee Loflin - Show Me Times

Senior Night is still a month away for the 19 veteran football players on the Dexter High School roster this fall. However, Saturday will certainly prove to be as memorable of a game as any that these guys have played in their careers.

The Bearcats (4-0) will host Southern Boone (3-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Charles Bland Stadium. The game was rescheduled from tonight due to the inclement weather conditions.

The match-up pits the Class 3 No. 3-ranked Bearcats against the Class 3 No. 10-ranked Eagles, whose lone defeat was at Class 3 No. 9-ranked Boonville (4-0) last week.

“It only gets tougher from here,” third-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said recently following a win. “We’ve got to keep working hard and good things will happen.”

The veteran Bearcats fill the two-deep lineup for Jamerson, including Caden Lee (left guard), Caleb Gott (left guard/defensive end), Zach Billingsley (center), Ethan Glaus (center/defensive end), Peyton Hartline (right guard), Sawyer Rascher (right tackle)Logan Pullum (tight end/outside linebacker), Lee-Michael McDonald (wing/safety), Rylee Cochran (wing), Jett Grams (fullback), Jackson Howard (quarterback), Nolan Alford (running back/outside linebacker), Joseph Passley (X receiver/cornerback), Parker King (nose tackle), Donovan McNeal (nose tackle), Christian Wirz (cornerback), as well as Tyler Spence (defensive/offensive line) and Travis Robinson (offensive/defensive line).

“This is their third year in our system,” Jamerson said of the Class of 2025, “and for several of them, their third year of starting. We are going to reap a pretty good crop from all that we have planted with these guys.”

Eagles are stifling

Southern Boone is averaging 24 points per game offensively and limiting opponents to less than 10 points per game defensively.

That should provide a tantalizing match-up because there is no better team in the SEMO Conference defensively than the Bearcats.

“Physicality has found its way, not in football, as it has been in the past,” Jamerson said of the evolving game. “That is something that we want to be, is physical.

“No one wants to be punched in the face for four quarters.”

The Dexter starting defenders have yet to allow a point to be scored against them and held East Prairie to nothing after the Eagles had scored a combined 82 points in their previous two games.

“Sooner or later,” Jamerson continued on his defensive philosophy, “somebody is not going to bring you as much after you have punched them in the face. Sooner or later, you’re going to get worn down.

“That is our philosophy both offensively and defensively.”

Field position to be key

If the playing conditions are miserable on Saturday, the punting of Howard may prove vital to the Bearcats if their offensive drives stall against the rain and wind, as well as the Southern Boone defense.

“That is where he is exceptionally gifted for us,” Jamerson said. “We have had a couple of punts where we are on the other side of the 50 (yard line) and I am confident in his ability to put some air underneath the ball and place it somewhere around the 20 (yard line).”

Alford bagging QBs

Alford has tallied seven quarterback sacks so far this fall, which leads the SEMO Conference. He has 10 tackles for a loss this year, and his defensive rating (52.0) ranks third in the league.

“What more can you possibly say about Nolan that hasn’t already been said,” Jamerson said earlier this season.

Well, how about this:

“I’ve been coaching for 21 years,” Jamerson said, “Nolan Alford may end up being the best player that I ever coach.”