Dexter FB Notes: Bearcats' speedster slowed

Dexter High School senior runner Lee-Michael McDonald tries to scoop up a fumble against Southern Boone on Saturday at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

There has been almost no negative news surrounding the Dexter High School football squad this season.

The Class 3 No. 3-ranked Bearcats (5-0, 2-0 SEMO Conference Central Division) have pounded most opponents on both sides of the ball and disposed of a top10 team in current Class 3 No. 9-ranked Southern Boone (3-2) last Saturday 24-21.

If there is a down aspect for Dexter, it has been the lingering ankle injury to senior speedster Lee-Michael McDonald.

“Lee-Michael tweaked (his ankle) on that one fumble play,” third-year Dexter coach Chad Jamerson said following the win over the Eagles. “I think that he could have played in the second half, but it was a decision to go ‘Hey, let’s be safe, and let’s be smart.’”

McDonald initially injured the ankle in the season-opening game at Malden and didn’t play in the second half. He then sat out a win over Sikeston the following week, and later at East Prairie.

In three games, he has rushed for 122 yards, scored twice, and averaged over 15 yards per carry.

McDonald’s availability tonight at Kelly (2-3, 1-1 SEMO Conference Central Division) at 7 p.m. will be a game-time decision.

Dexter High School senior Nolan Alford rests on the sideline during a game earlier this season against Sikeston at Charles Bland Stadium. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Climbing the charts

One Bearcat who hasn’t missed making an impact this season has been senior linebacker Nolan Alford.

“Nolan is a hard-working kid,” Jamerson said. “He is extremely humble. It’s hard enough to get him to talk sometimes. He is just now, after two years (under Jamerson) coming out of his shell.”

It may be difficult to get Alford to speak, but he has no issue chasing after opposing quarterbacks.

Alford leads Southeast Missouri with nine quarterback sacks and is second (behind Cape Central’s Cartez Hopkins) in tackles for a loss with 12.

Throughout the state, Alford ranks second in sacks, just ˝ of a sack behind the two leaders.

If the numbers on MaxPreps are correct, Alford is tied for the season record (nine) with former Bearcat great Braxton Foster (2018) and holds the career mark for Bearcat players at 11.

As far as tackles for a loss are concerned, he has 33 ˝ for his career, which MaxPreps has as the career leader for Dexter.

His 12 TFLs would be tied for the season mark with former teammate Landon Weathers.

Not resting on laurels

The Bearcats’ next two opponents (Kelly and Kennett) have just a combined two victories. But with Central (Park Hills) and Scott City each at 4-1 and being the Bearcats’ final two regular-season opponents, Jamerson isn’t getting too comfortable.

“We’ve got to walk out of (the Southern Boone win) feeling pretty good about where the program is now,” Jamerson said, “about the kids, our coaching staff, and about what we’re doing.”

But…

“But it doesn’t get any easier,” Jamerson continued. “Park Hills is still out there. (MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 opponents) Ste. Genevieve, Potosi, and Fredericktown are still out there. We’ve got to play Kelly. We’ve got to play Kennett, who is a rival, and that is a tough place to play.

“The road ahead is still pretty rough.”