Dexter FB has been historic in its ability to contain foes this fall

DEXTER – There are several reasons as to why the Dexter High School football team is enjoying one of the most successful seasons in the history of Bearcat football this autumn.

Second-year coach Chad Jamerson has his players more comfortable in his offensive and defensive systems, Dexter is loaded with depth in terms of the run game, Jamerson can utilize any number of athletic playmakers out of various formations, and no things are less significant to the team’s success than Dexter’s ability to contain the run game by its opposition.

“It all starts with Garrett Coons at the nose (tackle),” Jamerson said.

The Bearcat's latest success came by limiting a very athletic Caruthersville squad to just 114 yards rushing in a 46-28 Bearcat win, which improved Jamerson’s team to 5-1, which is only the third time since 2011 that the program has won that many games.

“That was a dang good football team,” Tiger coach Dom Guglielmio said after falling to Dexter.

Dexter will visit Kennett (4-2) tonight at 7 p.m. The Indians have won nine straight games in this series, dating back to a 38-35 Bearcat win on Sept. 25, 2015.

The Bearcats are “dang good” in all facets of play, but defensively, Jamerson’s team is reaching historic levels this fall.

Dexter is holding opponents under 18 points per game this season, which is the lowest level since at least 2008, which is far back as MSHSAA keeps records.

“It starts in the center of the defense with Garrett,” Jamerson continued, “but then we’ve got (junior) Caleb Gott, who has really stepped up and played well this season.”

Gott and Coons form a “tight 3-4” formation on a lot of snaps with senior defensive end Landon Weathers, who has been spectacular this fall, but never more so than against Caruthersville.

Against Caruthersville, Weathers totaled a team-best 11 tackles with 3 ½ stops going for a loss, one for a quarterback sack, and he wasn’t alone.

Sophomore linebacker Jason Hervoyavich and junior linebacker Nolan Alford each had seven tackles against the Tigers while Alford totaled four tackles for a loss.

Jamerson said that Alford, Hervoyavich, and linebacker Logan Pullum will aid Coons and Gott, and “those five guys do a really great job of controlling the line of scrimmage and keep the offensive line off of our two ‘head-knockers’ inside, which are Hervoyavich and Levi Dement on the inside,” according to Jamerson.

On third-and-long situations, Dexter has the depth to bring junior defensive line Parker King in to create pressure, as well, Jamerson added.

“Those guys completely understand what their jobs are,” Jamerson said. “It is to contain the edge and make sure that nothing gets to our inside linebackers.

“We move those guys around a little bit, and it is working out to be a pretty good formula.”