Dexter senior 'picks' a great time to have a spectacular season

DEXTER – It was a record-setting night on Friday at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter.

The Bearcats broke the program record for points scored, as they walloped Malden 78-8, and senior defensive back Rhyder Williams may have set a new standard for interceptions.

Williams picked off a pair of Green Wave passes, which brings his season total to eight.

“It’s got to be in the neighborhood (of the record),” second-year Dexter coach Chad Jamerson said following the win. “Rhyder is a testament to what hard work and focus is.”

Williams has been an integral part of a Bearcat defense that has stymied opponents this fall and is on the verge of another program record.

Dexter (7-2) has allowed opponents to total 170 points through nine games this fall, as compared to the 2018 group, which allowed a total of 182 points that season in 10 games.

“I think that we are a really good defense,” Jamerson said. “I think that we have shown that throughout the season.”

Depending on how far the Bearcats advance through the postseason, Jamerson’s kids will leave their mark in the program record books defensively.

The 2021 squad allowed 203 points in 10 games, though it was credited with a 6-5 mark due to a forfeiture (which gives the winning team a 13-0 mark in the record books) over Malden that season.

The only Dexter team in recent memory to challenge this year’s group for success was the 2011 team, which finished 9-2 and allowed 233 points in those 11 games.

“As far as scoring goes,” Jamerson continued, “there are only about two other defenses throughout Southeast Missouri who have allowed less points than us.”

Williams has brought athleticism to the Bearcat secondary, but being athletic, alone, doesn’t generate turnovers.

“To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson,” Jamerson said, “Luck is when hard work meets opportunity.”

Jamerson said Williams puts in an extraordinary amount of work in his preparation, and THEN his athleticism can reap rewards.

“It’s been a combination of hard work and Rhyder being in the right place at the right time,” Jamerson said. “Being at the right place at the right time, for a defensive back, means that you have prepared.

“Rhyder has prepared in practice. He has prepared in the film room, and he has prepared with the game plan.”

Not only does Williams have the athleticism to make plays, but Jamerson praised his football intellect, which also plays a role in his success.

“Rhyder prepares mentally,” Jamerson said. “He has a knack for the game. He naturally understands route lanes and he understands route combinations, and that showed tonight.”

Williams was one of 10 Bearcat seniors recognized prior to Friday’s win. He joined classmates Jayden Willems, RJ Farmer, Dement, Landon Weathers, Sebastian Ford, Caden Lee, Joseph Noll, Braiden Barnes, and Garrett Coons.

The Bearcats got scores from senior Farmer (15-yard run and 20-yard run), junior Jett Grams (a pair of four-yard runs), junior Lee-Michael McDonald (70-yard reception from quarterback Jackson Howard and nine-yard run), junior Nolan Alford (six-yard run), Willems (14-yard interception return), sophomore Devin Turnbo (100-yard interception return), junior Logan Pullum (84-yard reception from Howard), and freshman Langston Werneck (24-yard run).

Farmer rushed for 63 yards while Grams (56 yards) and McDonald (49 yards) were also productive.

Howard completed 6 of 8 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

McDonald had 81 yards receiving while Alford (36 yards) and Pullum (84 yards) also contributed.

Senior Landon Weathers led Dexter with eight tackles, including 5 1/2 for a loss while Alford (six tackles), Pullum (four tackles), and Conner Hill (three tackles) were also impactful.

Amerious White paced the Green Wave offense with three receptions for 49 yards while Quamereous Farmer scored Malden's lone touchdown on an early one-yard run.

Dexter finished second in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 standings, holding off Ste. Genevieve (6-3) by a mere .49 points.

The Bearcats earned a bye for the opening week of the playoffs this Friday and will host the winner of the Dragons and Fredericktown (2-7) on Nov. 3.