Dexter's season ends at Fredericktown

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Dexter's inability to stop the run and a lack of offense has plagued the Bearcats all season long.

Thursday's first-round Class 3, District 1 playoff game in a cold, driving rain at Fredericktown was no different.

Fredericktown chewed up yards in bunches gaining 507 yards of total offense, while the Bearcats could only manage five first downs and 133 total yards and the Blackcats crushed the Bearcats, 56-0.

Fredericktown had three ball carriers rush for over 100 yards. Jeremy Gremminger, Fredericktown's dual threat quarterback, rushed 15 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns and did not play in the second half. Running back James Royer carried the ball 14 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns (all in the first half), while Caleb Carver had eight touches for 117 yards and two TDs.

The Blackcats were nearly unstoppable in the first half, scoring 21 points in both the first and second quarters to lead 42-0 at the break.

Fredericktown came out with some new faces in the lineup for the second half and still scored on their first two possessions to make it a 56-0 game after three The mercy clock took care of the fourth quarter.

The inclement weather conditions painted a fitting back drop to what was the worst season ever for an Aaron Pixley coached Bearcats football team which finished 1-9.

"It has been a tough season no doubt about it," a dejected Pixley said while being shielded with an umbrella as the chilling wind and rain continued to fall. "We didn't play the way we wanted to play. But I tip my hat to Fredericktown. They are very good. They are right there with all he top seeds in this district. They could go a long way.

"Big and strong up front, and they've got a very good quarterback and running backs that run hard," he continued. "They took it to us. We didn't tackle particularly well on defense and we couldn't really get anything going on offense.

"A tough night in the rain," he added. "Any time it rains on us, if we're not really staying low and driving it's just very tough to get anything going and it's tough for our quarterback to throw a wet ball."

Dexter entered the game banged up and things only got worse as the rout continued. Chase Young tried to play with a bad leg, but was forced to the bench early in the first half. Leading rusher Ryan Joyner left the game early with a rib injury and quarterback DJ Dowdy had to leave the game in the second half with a wrist injury. Offensive tackle Nathan Cox also had to set out the second half injured.

"I told them after the game that a lot of teams, half their kids would have jumped ship and quit and they didn't do it," Pixley said. "I'm very proud of them for that and I'm very proud of our seniors for what they accomplished.

"They've had some very good times here," Pixley added. "I know right now is not a good time for them, but hopefully they can look back and look for the good times they had. And I told the rest of the team it starts in the weight room. We've got to get better for next year. We can't come back like this."

JERRY JARRELL photo - Dexter junior Jonathan Foels looks up filed for running room during Thursday's 56-0 loss to Fredericktown in a Class 3, District 1 first-round playoff game.

Fredericktown 56, Dexter 0

Score By Quarters

Dexter 0 0 0 0 -- 0

FHS 21 21 14 0 -- 56

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

F (3:20) -- James Royer 5-yard touchdowen run. James Royer run no good.

F (1:30) -- Jeremy Gremminger 13-yard touchdown run. Jeremy Gremminger pass to Justin Sawyer good.

F (0:23) -- Jeremy Gremminger 13-yard touchdown run. Ty Burks kick good.

Second Quarter

F (10:17) -- Jeremy Gremminger 40-yard touchdown run. Ty Burks kick good.

F (5:19) -- Jeremy Gremminger 12-yard pass to Jake Korokis for touchdown. Ty Burks kick good.

F (2:16) -- James Royer 7-yard touchdown run. Ty Burks kick good.

Third Quarter

F (9:36) -- Caleb Carver 8-yard touchdown run. Drake Spangler run good.

F (4:18) Caleb Carver 29-yard touchdown run. Drake Spangler run no good.

Fourth Quarter

No Scoring

Team Statistics

Dexter FHS

1st Downs 5 27

Rushes-yds 34-84 53-457

Comp-att-int 3-13-1 2-6-0

Passing yds 49 50

Total yds 133 507

Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-1

Punts-avg. 7-28.6 0-0

Penalties 4-20 2-10

Time/Poss 28:43 19:17

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Dexter -- 16-29, Tim Spence 6-24, Jonathan Foels 5-24, Ryan Joyner 4-8, Trevor Waldner 1-1, Chase Young 1-1, Ethan Stevens 1 (-2); Fredericktown -- Jeremy Gremminger 15-168, James Royer 14-152, Caleb Carver 8-117, Drake Spangler 4-(-8), Logan Brown 3-16, Chris Filley 2-15, Brock Oneal 2-0, Zach Proffer 2-(-2), Ross Lunsford 2-(-4), Patrick Smothers 1-3.

RECEIVING: Dexter -- Chase Young 2-34, Ethan Stevens 1-17; Fredericktown -- Zach Proffer 1-38, Jake Korokis 1-12.

JERRY JARRELL photo - Extra effort - Dexter quarterback DJ Dowdy fights for extra yards as he is brought down during Thursday's first-round Class 3, District 1 playoff game at Fredericktown. The Blackcats blasted the Bearcats 56-0.

PASSING: Dexter -- DJ Dowdy 3-13-1; Jeremy Gremminger 2-5-0, Drake Spangler 1-0-0.