Dexter opens with 28-6 win over Ste. Genevieve

DEXTER, Mo. -- It took Ste. Genevieve just two offensive plays to put the first six points of season on the board against Dexter Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium.

The early score seemed to wake up the Bearcat defenders who proceeded to blank the Dragons for the remainder of the game, and the Bearcats opened the season with a 28-6 win in a clash of Class 3 schools.

Dexter running back Joshua Overall rushed for 150 and three touchdowns on runs of 1-yard, 80-yards and 15-yards while quarterback Cody Stevens scampered in from 5 yards out for another as the Bearcats dominated the visiting Dragons in front of large crowd on a nearly perfect night for football.

JERRY JARRELL Photo -- Dexter quarterback Cody Stevens eludes two Ste. Genevieve defenders as he turns the corner for good yardage during the Bearcats' 28-6 season-opening win Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium.

"How the game started was eerily similar to last year's game," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said, referring to a 41-25 loss to the Dragons last season. "But we have enough kids that played in that game, been there, that they just didn't quit.

"They didn't let it bother them," Pixley continued. "We came back, got the ball back, had a great drive, we fumbled the football but we didn't freak out. We came out and got a great stop on defense and had a great drive down the football field to score and go up 7-6."

Dexter took the lead for good on the second play of the second quarter when Stevens capped a 70-yard drive with a 5-yard run and Alex Cliff drilled the point after attempt.

JERRY JARRELL Photo -- Dexter's Joshua Overall (No. 30) sheds defenders as he rambles for some of his 150-yards rushing in the Bearcats' 28-6 win over Ste. Genevieve Friday night at home.

Dexter added to its lead just before the half on a 1-yard plunge by Overall. The nine-play, 74-yard scoring drive saw Stevens hook up with Tyler Miller for a 19-yard completion on a third-and-one from their own 35 and later connect with Chase Young down the sideline for a 40-yard completion on a first-and-25 from their own 39.

Dexter forced a fumble from Ste. Genevieve's Travis Grither after a pass completion from Brendan Weiler that was recovered by Garrett Wray to set up its next score, a 80-yard break-away run from Overall. Cliff added his third PAT to make it a 21-6 game.

Dexter's final score came with 3:17 remaining in the game as Overall capped a five-play 54-yard drive with a 15-yard run.

JERRY JARRELL Photo -- Dexter sophomore Cody Neldon hauls in a Ste. Genevieve kickoff during the Bearcats' season-opening 28-6 win over the visiting Dragons. Neldon had two returns for 37 yards.

The Bearcats rolled up 418 yards of total offense while Dexter's defense limited the Dragons to just 148 for the game, 40 of those coming on their first two offensive plays.

Dexter limited Weiler to 30 yards on the ground and 14-of-25 passing for 67 yards.

"I felt like we played very well on both sides of the ball for the most part," Pixley stated. "Defensively, the tackling was outstanding. Anytime you play a team like that, that throws the ball as much as they do, you have to tackle and I felt like we did a good job tackling. We missed a few, but for the most part we did a good job tackling.

"Offensively, we ran the ball very well," he continued. "We probably dropped a 150 yards in passing yards. But that is going to get corrected because I know we have good receivers.

"I felt like the quarterback threw the ball well," he added. "We had some break down in our pass protection, especially in the first half. But it got better towards the half and we had better protection from there on. That passing game is going to be good and I tell you what, that running game was very strong tonight as well.

In addition to Overall's 150 yards, Nick Summers pounded the line 16 times for 97 yards. Cliff added 30 yards on eight carries while Stevens tucked the ball away and rolled up 52 yards on 12 carries.

Stevens, a senior, also connected on 6-of-16 passes for 89 yards, but his leadership on the field was not over looked by his coach.

"I felt like Cody (Stevens) did a good job of running the show out there," Pixley said of his second-year starter at QB. "He was even changing pass plays I put in to run plays and they were working. So he did a real nice job of running that offense."

Miller, who hauled in four passes for 44 yards, was also the Bearcats' leading tackler with six, along with defensive end Jacob Lee who also charted six tackles, three for losses.

"It was a big team win," Pixley said. "I feel like the special teams were good. We kicked extra points well. We kicked off well, covered it very well. We missed some tackles, but they were very aggressive misses. We had some physical plays out there and I was pleased with that."

Dexter will next be in action Friday at Park Hills Central. Dexter defeated Rebels twice last season, the second time in the MSHAA Class 3 playoffs.

"I expect a physical football team," Pixley said when asked about his team's next opponent. "They are going to be fired up and ready to play. It' basically going to be just the opposite of what we saw tonight. "We're going to see double tight ends, two and three back backfields. They are going to run power, they are going to run lead, they are going to run triple option and we have to be physical and get after it from a defensive standpoint. Offensively, we're going to do what we do. We are going to run and throw the football. Go out there and execute and run plays."

Dexter-Ste. Genevieve Stats

Score by Quarter

Ste. Gen 6 0 0 0 -- 6

Dexter 0 14 7 7 -- 28

First Quarter

Ste. Genevieve -- Jacob Billings 26-yard run (Luke Palmer kick no good) 10:03

Second Quarter

Dexter -- Cody Stevens 5-yard run (Alex Cliff kick good) 11:21

Dexter -- Joshua Ovefrall 1-yard run (Alex Cliff kick good) :07

Third Quarter

Dexter -- Joshua Overall 80-yard run (Alex Cliff kick good) 5:52

Fourth Quarter

Dexter -- Joshua Overall 15-yard run (Alex Cliff kick good) 3:17

Ste. Gen Dexter

First downs 11 21

Total yards 148 418

Rushes-yards 18-81 49-329

Passing yards 67 89

Passes 25 16

Punts 5-182 2-74

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalities-yards 7-45 4-40

Individual Statistics

RUSHING -- Dexter: Joshua Overall 13-150, Nick Summer 16-97

Cody Stevens 12-52, Alex Cliff 8-30. Ste. Genevieve: Jacob Billings 4-43, Brendan Weiler 10-30, Travis Grither 3-7, Brendan Dallas 1-1.

PASSING -- Dexter: Cody Stevens 6-16-89-0; Ste. Genevieve: Brendan Weiler 14-25-67-0.

RECEIVING -- Dexter: Tyler Miller 4-44-0, Chase Young 1-40-0, Alex Cliff 1-5-0. Ste. Genevieve: Travis Grither 5-63-0, Luke Palmer 4-29-0, Jacob Roe 3-22-0, Jacob Billings 1-1-0, Brendan Dallas 1-6-0.