Athleticism, strength was 'goal' of Bearcat coach

Third-year Dexter High School football coach Chad Jamerson speaks to athletes in the school's weight room this past summer during a football combine that Dexter offered to schools throughout the area.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Dexter High School football program has raced past all comers this season en route to a 9-0 mark.

A magical postseason run can get underway tonight, as the Bearcats host Fredericktown (4-6) at 7 p.m. at Charles Bland Stadium in the semifinal round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 Playoff, and the athleticism of the Dexter athletes will be on full display.

“That was one of my focuses when I (took the job in 2022) was to try and develop some speed and help develop some athleticism,” third-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said. “It has paid dividends with the work that we’ve done in the weight room, and the work that we have done on the track.”

Jamerson has had his hands in both areas, as he teaches strength and conditioning seven periods each school day, as well as coaches the Dexter track and field squad, which has produced state champions over the past three seasons.

Jamerson’s day of impacting Dexter student-athletes begins even before the school day starts, as some kids are enrolled in “zero hour,” which is a period that is conducted prior to the start of school each day.

“We bring in some kids before school,” Jamerson explained. “Those kids either do it for credit or no credit.

“The weight room is open all day long.”

Dexter FB has thrived with 'one of the best' coaching staffs

Tom Davis

Third-year Dexter High School football coach Chad Jamerson has received a lot of kudos for guiding his team to only the fourth undefeated season in program history this fall, as he should. However, he will be the first to say that it takes a village to raise a football program to this level.

The effort of the Bearcat athletes has shown – on all fields of play this autumn.

Not only has the football team compiled one of just four unbeaten regular seasons in school history, but the volleyball squad won 24 matches, which was the most since 2017, and the Dexter boy’s cross country team recently won its first MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 championship.

“I want to coach every single athlete that we have in our school district,” Jamerson said. “Any kid who walks through those doors and plays a sport, I want them in our weight room. I want them in our speed and agility program. I want them in our ‘Plow’ program because at the end of the day, we’re all Dexter Bearcats.”

On the football field, the evidence of that work has shown up in the statistics.

The Bearcats have averaged nearly 45 points per game, which is the best in at least 15 seasons.

Defensively, Dexter has limited its opposition to just one touchdown per game, which also is the best in the past 15 seasons, which is 50 points (total) better than any other team in the SEMO Conference.

“It’s a testament to these kids,” Jamerson said, “over the last three years, and the amount of work that they put in.

“The goal here is to clean sweep District titles, not just for the football team to be successful or the softball team. We want everyone involved and proud to wear that red and black and work for something.”