Dexter looks sharp in jamboree

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats hosted a four-team jamboree for the fifth straight year Friday night and looked almost invincible.

In Dexter's first contest they shut out Scott City's Rams three touchdowns to none while dominating in every phase of the game.

Bearcat senior quarterback Kyle Espey hooked up with Derek Roberts for the first score of the contest on the second play from scrimmage.

Two plays later Espey found Levi Rawson for another long pass play for the second Dexter score.

Aaron Reese ran up the middle for the final score of the contest.

"Our offense normally struggles in these jamborees but tonight we came out and played pretty well, ran the ball well and had some nice passes," commented Dexter head coach Aaron Pixley. "We were really just looking to come out and give great effort and get physical, and hit someone with a different colored jersey. Our kids had a really good time, and we had a pretty positive jamboree, so I'm pretty proud of them right now."

The Portageville Bulldogs took on the Kennett Indians in their first contest.

On the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Jordan Penn linked up with Heath Stegall on a 16-yard pass play. After short, but consistent runs by Leonard Boyd and Penn, Antonio Scott rambled in from 19 yards out.

Kennett never got going on offense thanks to good tackling by Portageville and were shut out.

Dexter and Portageville hooked up in the final contest.

The Bulldogs got the ball first, but ran into a very large and talented Bearcat defense. Portageville was not able to move the ball. Antonio Scott managed to gain eight yards on a running play, but that was the only positive yardage on the possession.

The Bearcats came out on their first possession and established their dominance. Espey again found Roberts open on the first play and scored a 40-yard touchdown.

Nine plays later Espey found Jake Smith open and completed another touchdown pass to complete the scoring for the evening.

"I do have a good bunch of kids, they work hard, but they sometimes lose focus, we just gotta come out next week and work harder and get better," said new Portageville head coach Ashley Swims. "We have a different offense and I think once we learn that, we'll be a good offensive team.

Portageville will open the season next Friday night at Piggott, Ark. while Dexter will travel to Ste Genevieve to take on the Dragons.