The Class 3, District 1 football crown is up for grabs tonight as the Dexter Bearcats host the Fredericktown Blackcats at Charles Bland Stadium.
The game will mark the second straight season the two schools have faced off for the district title on a Thursday. Dexter won last season showdown, 30-22.
"The biggest game of the year for us," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley commented. "The are a very good football team that has improved throughout the year. Probably the best offensive line that we've seen all year long. Which forces you to have to be great up front. They'll flip their offensive line and put them on the defensive line. They are great up front on both sides of the ball.
"It's an important game for both schools," Pixley continued. "I know Fredericktown is not coming to Dexter to lose the game. They are coming in trying to win a district championship just like we are."
This year's game is eerily similar to last years, only the roles are reversed. Last season it was Dexter supporting a so-so 5-4 record and on the road as the underdogs heading to Fredericktown. Dexter won the game and earned the right to host a first-round playoff game. The rest is history as the 'Cats notched two playoff wins before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
"They do kind of remind me of us last year," Pixley noted. "As far as their improvement as the season goes on. But we just have to make sure we don't give them the football, and by that I mean turn the football over.
"We've got to play very, very physical and make sure we swarm to the football on defense," he added. "And of offensively we need to continue to execute plays.
"They are a very good football team and we highly anticipate a very, very tough hard fought game."
This season it is Fredericktown (4-5) on the road trying to win a district title. The Blackcats started the season 0-3 and opted to scrap their old power run offense for the increasingly popular spread attack.
Since the switch Coach Shannon Henson's team has went 4-2, with the two losses coming to Class 4 Potosi and perennial power Maplewood-Richmond Heights.
"Their offense is really clicking," Pixley said, noting the new offensive scheme. "They've got a good quarterback (Jeremy Gremminger) that runs and throws it really well. Good hard-nosed running backs that run the ball hard. And they've got some speed outside at wide receiver.
"And like I said, their offensive line gets off on the running game about as good as we've seen all year," he added. "So they are a very, very good offensive football team and they have been playing very good on defense as well of late to."
Fredericktown appears to be adapting to the new offense and has shown steady improvement during the regular season. The team is riding a two-game win streak in which they have outscored their district opponents, 99-28.
Last week Gemminger, a junior, passed for 153 yards and rushed for 275 and six touchdowns in a 63-14 rout of Kennett.
Running back James Royer, another junior, and Gremminger give the Blackcats what has been referred to in the media as a "two-headed" rushing monster.
The Blackcats shut out the Indians in the first half and forced five turnovers, three of which came on squib kickoffs that Kennett couldn't handle.
The two teams have four common opponents including district foes New Madrid County Central and Kennett along with Ste. Genevieve and Park Hills Central. Fredericktown is 3-1 while Dexter is 4-0 against those schools.
Fredericktown's loss among the common opponents was a 46-20 loss to Ste. Genevieve in Week 3, which may have facilitated the switch in offensive philosophy.
Notes: The winner of the Dexter-Fredericktown game will host the loser of tonight's Class 3, District 2 title game between Ste. Genevieve and Park Hills Central... The District 2 winner will host the second place team in District 1... The first-round playoff games are scheduled for Wednesday (Nov. 2) with the sectional round slated for Monday (Nov. 7)... the Class 3 quarterfinal round is set for Saturday (Nov.12).