Dexter defense lifts slow-starting (but eventually explosive) offense to impressive W

Dexter High School junior linebacker Conner Hill celebrates during the Bearcats' game against Southern Boone on Saturday at Charles Bland Stadium.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

DEXTER – There were signs early in Dexter’s football game with Class 3 No. 10-ranked Southern Boone on Saturday at Charles Bland Stadium that the Bearcats were going to self-implode and lose for the first time all season, as the mistakes mounted.

However, at the end of the day, the Bearcat defense was as good as advertised, and that was enough – barely – to hold off the visiting Eagles 24-21 in an absolutely thrilling game.

“In that first half,” third-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said following the win, “we were able to move the ball, but we just couldn’t finish drives. We went in at halftime and made some adjustments, and low and behold, those adjustments worked.”

The biggest “adjustment” made was that the Class 3 No. 3-ranked Bearcats (5-0) stopped shooting themselves in the foot.

On the Bearcats’ opening drive, it stalled at the 10-yard line, but senior kicker Parker King booted a 24-yard field goal through with 3:42 remaining in the opening quarter, which ultimately proved to be vital.

The Bearcat starting defense, which hadn’t allowed a point to be scored against it all season, stopped Southern Boone twice early and the Dexter offense took advantage.

Senior quarterback Jackson Howard connected for a 44-yard throw to sophomore Langston Werneck, which took the ball to the Eagle 17-yard line late in the opening quarter. However, after advancing the ball to the four-yard line, Dexter fumbled the ball away.

Southern Boone seized the life out of the stadium on the ensuing play when it scored on a 97-yard touchdown pass for a 7-3 lead.

“That first half came down to one mistake,” Jamerson said.

The Bearcats converted a crucial fourth down at midfield on its next drive, as Howard tossed a short pass to junior Devin Turnbo, and with the ball in the red zone, Howard threw an interception at his own end zone to crush another Dexter opportunity.

While the Bearcat offense was faltering, its defense was stellar, and the Eagles led just 7-3 at halftime.

The Dexter offense more than made up for its first half following intermission.

On the first series, Bearcat seniors Nolan Alford and Jett Grams carried the ball on consecutive 40-yard runs, with Grams’ being a power run through seemingly 11 Eagle defenders to reach the end zone, and within 40 seconds, Dexter held a 10-7 margin.

“Jett was frustrated in the first half,” Jamerson said. “He was angry at the end of the first half and he came out (in the second half) and ran angry.”

The Eagles answered with a long run to the Dexter one-yard line before punching it in and taking a 14-10 lead just a few minutes later, but Grams bulled his way to the 11-yard line on a 33-yard rush on the following drive.

Werneck, who was getting carries in place of an injured senior Lee-Michael McDonald (ankle), sprinted his way into the end zone from eight yards out with 7:45 left in the third quarter.

Just over two minutes, and another Bearcat defensive stop later, Alford tore off on a 48-yard score and a 24-14 advantage.

The Bearcat defense had another highlight moment with 6:53 remaining in the game, as junior linebacker Jason Hervoyavich sacked the Southern Boone quarterback on a fourth down, however, the Dexter offense fumbled the ball away on its next series.

Southern Boone (3-2) scored with 35 seconds remaining for the final margin, and then its ensuing onside kick bounced out of bounds to seal the Dexter win.

“Our kids are gassed,” Jamerson said. “They left everything they had out on the field. They showed up and did what they were asked to do.”

Grams finished with 63 yards rushing while Werneck (59 yards), Alford (55 yards), and Turnbo (33 yards) also contributed.

Turnbo added three receptions for 32 yards while Howard completed four of his nine passes for 77 yards.

Hervoyavich paced the defense with 14 tackles, including three for a loss while senior defensive back Christian Wirz, Alford (linebacker), and Turnbo (defensive back) added five each.

Seniors Logan Pullum and Sawyer Rascher each added a sack in the win.

“We played like there was no tomorrow,” Jamerson said. “I’m just so proud of everything and everyone.”

The Bearcats will visit Kelly (2-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.