Ste. Genevieve holds off Dexter in district thriller

DEXTER — The Dexter Bearcats didn't lose on Friday night against Ste. Genevieve in the Class 3, District 1 Semifinals, they just ran out of time.

That was the message Bearcat head coach Chad Jamerson had for his team after they made a thrilling comeback in the 29-28 decision that sent the Dragons to the Class 3, District 1 title game next week against Park Hills.

“I think throughout the season, we’ve proven we’re a little bit of a slow starter at times,” he said. “I think we showed that again tonight. Some calls we maybe didn’t agree with lit a fire under our kids and it motivated them to come out and play better football in the second half and in the second quarter.

“I’m really proud of the effort that they gave. It was incredible.”

Things looked dire early for Bearcat fans in attendance as Dexter was hosting a playoff game for the third time since 2018.

Dexter was down 29-7 with just over a minute left in the first half when Lee-Michael McDonald hauled in his second touchdown pass of the game from Jackson Howard.

The Bearcats trailed 29-14 at the break and kicked off to start the second half.

McDonald caught his third touchdown in the third but a missed extra point would prove to be the difference as the score was 29-20 heading to the fourth.

“They showed me what they showed me all season long,” Jamerson said of his team’s comeback. “They’re just willing to give a little extra when the time calls for it. They surprise me every day and today was no different.”

Jett Grams punched it in from a yard out with 5:38 left but after forcing the Dragons to turn it over on downs, the Bearcats followed suit until the Dragons kneeled out the clock.

“Our team literally did not quit,” Jamerson said. “We gave it everything we had. Losing by one point in a district semifinal in a game to team that drubbed us last year, I think it just speaks to the character of our kids. I think it speaks to the character of our community, our school and it tells you a lot more about them internally than externally.”

Dexter ends the season at 7-3, the program’s most wins since 2011 when the Bearcats tallied nine victories including seven-straight wins to close out the regular season.

Jamerson said he’s called last year and this year’s senior classes the foundation, the bedrock of what the program is becoming.

“I think this is an opportunity to be a spring board for this program,” he said. “I feel like the kids put in a great offseason and a great summer. We’ve got to understand in the words of a really smart coach I met a long time ago, we’ve got to avoid the drift. We’ve got to continue to press forward and continue to work hard toward our goals. The goals never change day in and day out. At the end of the day all you have is family and hard work, those are the two things we are going to lean on with these young men.”

Jamerson told his seniors after the game that he would always be coach, something he will never take for granted.

“I always thank these kids for calling me ‘Coach,’” he said. “The three best things that have ever been said to me are the time my wife said ‘I do,’ the first time my daughter called me dad and every single time these kids call me coach. It isn’t something we take lightly. A lot of people look at it as just a football program, for us it’s a way of life. These kids dedicate so much time to these moments, we want them to be as special as they can.”