By Matthew Bartow / WLD
Dexter defeated Tecumseh 54-19 on Friday at Dexter’s Al Ritt Stadium in an SEC White Division contest. Dexter improves to 5-1 (4-1 SEC White) with the victory, while Tecumseh falls to 1-5 (1-4 SEC White) with the loss.
Running back Evan Krolewski ran for 188 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns to spearhead Dexter’s offensive attack.
Dexter head coach Phil Jacobs said that the running back duo of Krolewski and Jordan Watson, who scored two rushing touchdowns, combined for a monster game.
“Both of our running backs are patient, and as soon as they see that hole, they slip in it, and it’s a foot race to the end zone,” Jacobs said. “Both of them are fast and strong running backs, and if you get them in the open, especially Evan [Krolewski], they’re going to outrun you.”
Dexter junior quarterback Colin Parachek threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
Dexter needed only five plays to get on the scoreboard on Friday night. Parachek and receiver Rhett Jacobs connected twice for 34 yards, pushing the ball deep into Tecumseh territory. Three plays later, Krolewski scored his first touchdown of the night, on a run from 12 yards out, to give Dexter the lead just 51 seconds into the game. Dexter led 6-0 after the extra point was missed.
Dexter stopped Tecumseh on the next drive and got the ball back. Dexter moved the ball near midfield after Parachek completed two passes to receiver Antwan Ficklen, but on the third play of the drive, Parachek’s screen pass attempt was intercepted by Tecumseh defensive end Joe Krasnoselsky.
Tecumseh took over in Dexter territory following the interception, and the Dreadnaughts needed a stop to preserve the lead. Watson, who also plays on defense at the linebacker position, flushed Tecumseh quarterback Jack Burnett out the pocket and forced an incomplete pass on third down. Tecumseh attempted a 31-yard field goal, but the kick hit the crossbar and was no good.
Dexter’s high-octane offense scored on its next drive to double its lead. On the third play of the drive, Parachek hit receiver Brennan Parachek with a short pass, who turned up field, broke away from a defender, and ran down the sideline to score a 62-yard touchdown. Brady Keough’s successful extra point gave Dexter a 13-0 lead with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Dexter got the ball back in Tecumseh territory after forcing the Indians three-and-out. Watson capped off the 6 play, 42-yard scoring drive by taking a direct snap 6 yards around the right end, scoring his first of two touchdowns. Keough’s extra point gave the Dreadnaughts a 20-0 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
The Dreadnaughts’ special teams got in on the scoring as well after Dexter’s defense forced another Tecumseh punt. Bryce Martin reached up and blocked the punt, and fellow defensive lineman Mark Young scooped up the loose ball and returned it 20 yards for a Dexter touchdown. Keough’s extra point was good, and Dexter led 27-0 with 9:06 remaining in the first half.
Dexter’s offense was set up with decent field position again after defensive lineman Caleb Drenner recovered a fumble on Tecumseh’s next drive. Dexter’s drive looked stalled after the first two plays lost three yards, but Parachek connected again with his brother Brennan Parachek for 15 yards, converting a third-and-13 into Tecumseh territory. Krolewski capped the 8 play, 61-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown run up the middle, his second of three on the night. Keough’s extra point was good, and Dexter led 34-0 with 4:36 remaining in the half.
Tecumseh briefly seized some momentum and cut into Dexter’s lead. The Indians switched quarterbacks, bringing in Jayden Amaya. On the third play of Tecumseh’s drive, Amaya avoided a blitzing defender, threw deep and connected with a wide-open Alex Lawson on a blown coverage. Lawson broke a tackle and scored a 65-yard touchdown to cut Dexter’s lead to 34-6.
Jacobs said that Tecumseh’s offense caused them some issues.
“It’s the first game in a while where our defense was tested,” Jacobs said. “Tecumseh tested us. We’ve gotta fix some tackling issues. Over the last three weeks, we’ve been accustomed to three-and-outs, and our defense wore down a little bit, but we’re going to address that issue in practice.”
The Indians scored again after Parachek was intercepted by Tecumseh safety JJ Arbini, who returned the ball deep into Dexter territory. Two plays later, Amaya connected with Lawson again for a 21-yard touchdown. Casey Wild’s extra point was successful, and Dexter’s lead was cut to 34-13 with 2:56 remaining in the first half.
Tecumseh’s momentum was short-lived. Dexter sniffed out an onside kick attempt and recovered at its own 49-yard line. Two plays later, Krolewski took a handoff, broke loose up the middle, bounced outside, stiff-armed a defender and scored a highlight-reel 54-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, and Dexter led 40-13 with 2:13 remaining in the first half. The score would remain the same going into half.
After both teams traded interceptions in the third quarter, with Dexter defensive back Yusef Mohammed forcing one, Dexter’s offense found the end zone again. A 37-yard rush from Krolewski moved the ball into Indians’ territory, and on the next play, Parachek hit Ficklen on a slant for a 30-yard touchdown to cap a 4 play, 78-yard scoring drive. Dexter led 46-13 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter after the extra point was no good.
Dexter’s defense stopped Tecumseh on a fourth down attempt, and its offense turned the short field into a touchdown in just two plays. Watson took the handoff, dragged a defender, and scored a 15-yard running touchdown on the second play. Watson also scored on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt to increase Dexter’s lead to 54-13 in the final minute of the third quarter.
Dexter’s 41-point lead forced a running clock. Tecumseh scored the only touchdown in the fourth quarter as Lawson came down with a jump ball in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown, his third of the game.
Dexter will play at Pinckney (5-1, 4-1 SEC White) in next week’s game. The game will be played on Friday Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. The winner of the contest will clinch a berth in the MHSAA state football playoffs.
BOX SCORE
1st Quarter
11:09 – Dexter – Evan Krolewski 12 yard TD run (PAT fails) – Dexter 6, Tecumseh 0
2:26 – Dexter – Brennan Parachek 62 yard TD pass from Colin Parachek (Brady Keough kick) – Dexter 13, Tecumseh 0
0:02 – Dexter – Jordan Watson 6 yard TD run (Keough kick) – Dexter 20, Tecumseh 0
2nd Quarter
9:06 – Dexter – Mark Young punt return TD (Keough kick) – Dexter 27, Tecumseh 0
4:36 – Dexter – Krolewski 4 yard TD run (Keough kick) – Dexter 34, Tecumseh 0
4:10 – Tecumseh – Alex Lawson 65 yard TD pass from Jayden Amaya (PAT fails) – Dexter 34, Tecumseh 6
2:56 – Tecumseh – Lawson 21 yard TD pass from Amaya (Casey Wild kick) – Dexter 34, Tecumseh 13
2:13 – Dexter – Krolewski 54 yard TD run (PAT fails) – Dexter 40, Tecumseh 13
3rd Quarter
3:13 – Dexter – Antwan Ficklen 30 yard TD pass from Parachek (PAT fails) – Dexter 46, Tecumseh 13
0:33 – Dexter – Watson 15 yard TD run (2-pt. conversion succeeds) – Dexter 54, Tecumseh 13
4th Quarter
5:50 – Tecumseh – Lawson 22 yard TD pass from Amaya (PAT fails) – Dexter 54, Tecumseh 19
Other SEC White Division Scores
Pinckney 49, Adrian 0
Chelsea 30, Ypsilanti 6
Jackson 59, Ypsilanti Lincoln 26
SEC White Division Standings
Chelsea (6-0, 5-0 SEC White)
Dexter (5-1, 4-1 SEC White)
Pinckney (5-1, 4-1 SEC White)
Jackson (4-2, 3-2 SEC White)
Ypsilanti Lincoln (2-4, 2-3 SEC White)
Ypsilanti (1-5, 1-4 SEC White)
Tecumseh (1-5, 1-4 SEC White)
Adrian (0-6, 0-5 SEC White)
