Bearcats set to take on familiar foe in regional

sports@standard-democrat.com

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats and Park Hills Central Rebels are no strangers. When the two teams meet tonight in a Class 3 regional match-up at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter, it will be the fourth meeting in the last two years, with the Bearcats winning the prior three meetings.

Last season, Dexter took the first meeting 14-0 before downing the Rebels 28-20 in a Class 3 sectional game. Earlier this season, Dexter built a 37-7 lead and held off the Rebels 37-27.

"I know the first time we played them it was the hottest day of the year and neither team was in very good shape," said Dexter coach Aaron Pixley. "Now both teams are in shape and hopefully both teams are better than they were. I think it helps to be familiar with people. I'm sure it helps them just as much (as it helps us)."

Dexter comes into the game with one of the best teams the school has had in recent memory. The Bearcats have set a school record in points scored in a season and their nine wins are the most since the 1987 Dexter quarterfinal squad, which Pixley was a part of.

It is the Dexter offense which has garnered most of the attention from opposing teams as the Bearcats are averaging 46 points per game. The Bearcats are led by dual-threat quarterback Cody Stevens. The senior has thrown for 1,376 yards and 18 touchdowns while throwing only four interceptions. He also has ran for a team-high 1,176 yards and 13 touchdowns.

But Stevens isn't Dexter's only threat. Senior running back Josh Overall has ran for 867 yards and 17 touchdowns while fellow senior Nick Summers has 584 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

Senior Tyler Miller has 39 catches for 695 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Chase Young has 20 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns.

While Dexter scored 37 points against the Rebels earlier in the season, Pixley knows it may not be as easy the second time around.

"We just have have to execute on offense," Pixley said. "That's the name of the game. You have to execute it, you have to stay with blocks and you have to run as hard as you can. Whenever we're throwing the ball we have to make good passes, catch them and score. It's just all about execution."

The Rebels (5-5) come in with a big, physical rushing attack that gained 196 yards against Dexter in their first meeting. Park Hills Central has used that rushing attack to average 30 points per game and have scored 132 points in their last three games.

"They really get downhill hard," Pixley said. "They have a big tailback and they have some other tailbacks that run really hard too. Their fullbacks are big. Then if you don't watch it you'll fall asleep against their play action passing game. They can kill you in that too. So they do what they do and they do it very well."

The Rebels are led by tailback Derek Mitchell. The junior has scored 16 touchdowns on the season and gained 136 yards on 27 carries last week in a 35-28 loss to Ste. Genevieve. Mitchell will share carries with Daniel Marler and fullback Ed Cruz while sophomore quarterback Hunter Courtois will split time with senior Jon Comfort.

"They are a very good football team," Pixley said. "They're big, they're physical and if they get those big backs going downhill and you don't get off and attack, they're going to keep the ball all night long on you and just run the clock."

Defensively the Rebels are giving up 25 points per game and have been vulnerable to the pass. Last week against Ste. Genevieve, the Dragons threw for 173 yards while Dexter threw for 132 and four touchdowns in the teams' first meeting this season.

"They're a very good football team and then they flip around on defense with a lot of the same guys," Pixley said. "They're just tough to move because they're so big. They play hard, they come off hard and they're a well coached team. We're happy to be here, but we know we're going to have to play well to win."