Potent Bearcat offense starting with 'deep' O-Line

It’s hard not to be enamored with the multitude of offensive playmakers that the Dexter High School football team has unleashed on the opposition this fall.

The Bearcats have speed (senior runner RJ Farmer and junior athlete Lee-Michael McDonald), pass-catchers (junior tight end Logan Pullum and junior receiver Nolan Alford), and power (junior bull-rusher Jett Grams), as well as a solid quarterback directing everything in junior Jackson Howard. However, none of that explosive productivity occurs without blocking up front.

“You don’t get to say this very often,” second-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said recently, “but we’re pretty deep along the offensive and defensive lines.”

Dexter (3-1) is off to its best start since 2017 and will visit Doniphan (0-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Prior to last Friday’s road win at East Prairie, the Bearcats were averaging around 25 points per game, which is essentially what the program had averaged the two years prior. However, after dropping 56 points on the Eagles, that boosted Dexter’s offensive average to nearly 33 points per game, which is the highest number since the 2015 season.

“It’s nice to be able to come out and be able to call, pretty much, whatever you want on offense,” Jamerson said, “and it will work.”

A BIG reason for the success this season, both literally and figuratively, has been the improved play of the offensive front.

Junior Ethan Glaus handles the center duties while junior Sawyer Rascher, junior Zach Billingsley, senior Caden Lee, senior Braiden Barnes, and junior Peyton Hartline have filled out the “deep” offensive line that amassed 377 yards of offense against East Prairie.

“Our offensive line played really well,” Jamerson said following the win.

That depth allowed Jamerson to move Billingsley, who has surprising athleticism for a big kid, over to the defensive front, as Hartline returned to play a lot of snaps at guard on Friday.

“The difference between Billingsley and Hartline right now is very minute,” Jamerson said.

Billingsley has bulked up to 275 pounds but has maintained his athleticism, according to Jamerson.

“Billingsley gets off the ball very well,” Jamerson said. “He runs a 5.04 (40-yard dash), which is fast for a 275-pound guy.

“But Peyton is a dog-gone hoss, too. He worked really hard in the off-season.”

To cap the offensive end, Jamerson praised Logan Pullum, who is a fantastic receiver, but Jamerson said he “does everything.”

“He runs the routes,” Jamerson said. “He catches the football, and he blocks his tail off.”

The winless Dons (0-4) are currently allowing nearly 37 points per game by the opposing offenses, so, in theory, Dexter’s offensive production could climb even higher this week before facing a daunting three weeks against Caruthersville, Kennett, and Central (Park Hills).

“When you look at our schedule, from top to bottom,” Jamerson said, “I would match our schedule up against anybody else’s in Southeast Missouri.

“I think that it is a really tough schedule, and sometimes it feels like a murder’s row.”