Dexter FB found success quicker than most thought in 2023

With each passing weekend, the football seasons for high school programs throughout Missouri begin to find their place in memories and yearbooks, as opposed to continuing on the turf.

However, as much as the pain of seeing a season end continues to find itself into the minds of players and coaches, the memories of what it took to accomplish feats must be as prevalent, as well.

The Dexter High School football season ended two weeks ago in the semifinal round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 Playoff, but that should not diminish what the Bearcats were able to achieve over the preceding two-plus months.

Dexter won 7 of its 10 ballgames this fall, which was the most since a 9-2 season in 2011.

Second-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson has constructed his program quickly, which surprised many people, maybe even himself.

“I feel like as a program,” Jamerson said late in the season, “with growth, we’re a little bit ahead of schedule. And that is a great thing to be.”

The Bearcats were by far the most productive Dexter squad seen in over a decade, as they averaged nearly 38 points per game, and were also a very stringent defensive team.

Dexter gave up less than 20 points per game, which was just the third time in the previous 15-plus seasons that had been accomplished as a program, and only the second time without the aid of a forfeit on the Bearcat schedule.

“It’s never wrong to be too early when you’re winning football games,” Jamerson said.

The Bearcats fielded a roster of 53 players this fall, and Jamerson was quick to give his student-athletes credit for their diligence and attitude since he was hired in the winter of 2022.

“A lot of this (success) comes down to crediting the kids,” Jamerson said. “They worked extremely hard all off-season long. They put the weight on that they needed to put on. They got faster where they needed to get faster, and they really bought into what we were selling.”

Of those 53 Bearcat players, 10 were seniors this fall (Rhyder Williams, Jayden Willems, RJ Farmer, Dement, Landon Weathers, Sebastian Ford, Caden Lee, Joseph Noll, Braiden Barnes, and Garrett Coons). Jamerson also noted how important it was to the program to have the older players leading the way in terms of positive attitudes and work ethic.

“They have given us all that they have since we started this thing 18 months ago,” Jamerson said. “For them to come out, and experience success this season, it is a very satisfying and gratifying feeling.”

With the program trending upward, the focus can often be limited to those on the field for that development, but Jamerson said that it took a village of people to reach this point.

“It helps to have a good community,” Jamerson said, “good parents, and good coaches who have really supported everything that we have done. I’ve got a great administration. Everyone has been extremely supportive of the goals that we had as a program, and it has gone really well for us.”

The Bearcats will celebrate the season with their team banquet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Dexter.