With some fans in the stands, the Dexter and Jackson football teams put on a show worthy of not only a packed house but the record books as well. It might have been a chilly October night, but it felt more like the Fourth of July considering all the fireworks as the two teams combined for more than 100 points and 1,000 yards of total offense.
It wasn’t that defense took the night off, it was both teams featured explosives offenses. Instead of trying to stop their opponent, the defenses spent four quarters just trying to hold on.
Despite Jackson’s fabulous running back Dorion Riley – think a smaller version of Herschel Walker with great strength, incredible speed and just an amazing sense of where to pick his spots – rushing for 377 yards and four touchdowns, the Vikings had no answer for Dexter’s potent offense.
In fact, Riley only earned a supporting role in this action-packed thriller.
Dexter quarterback Colin Parachek was the star. The senior tossed SEVEN touchdown passes and threw for more than 500 yards in the Dreadnaughts’ 70-38 win over Jackson in an SEC White Division shootout on a somewhat chilly, but perfect night for football at Al Ritt Stadium.
The 70 points scored by Dexter are the most ever in school history. They put up 60 or more points three times last year and had 62 points in a win over Ecorse on Oct. 20, 2006. But the Dreadnaughts have never reached 70 points in a single game – at least since 1950.
As for the combined score, Dexter never combined for more than 100 points last year despite their offensive prowess. But it has been “accomplished” in the past. For example, Huron defeated Dexter 65-46 on Sept. 9, 2011.
The Dreadnaughts also set single-game records for passing yards (Parachek, 507 yards) and receiving yards (Braeden Fuson, 215 yards).
On Friday, the Dreadnaughts didn’t put up their 70 points by marching down the field with long drives. These were quick-strike, often long scoring plays with wide receivers running free down the middle of the field for 50 plus yards.
Yeah, it was impressive.
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Dexter improves to 3-2 on the season and have now won two in a row. They face an 0-4 Pioneer team that lost 14-7 on Friday to previously winless Ypsilanti. Jackson falls to 2-3 on the year and finish up with Jackson Northwest.
How did the scoring go on Friday night – well, put on your track shoes and try to keep up.
After the teams traded turnovers to start the game, Parachek threw a 42-yard pass to Fuson – remember that name – to put the ball at the 2-yard line. Cole Cabana busted it in from there to put Dexter up 6-0.
Dexter’s Blake Sislo added the extra point to make it 7-0 at 10:45 of the first quarter. In fact, Sislo was a perfect 10 for 10 on extra points in the game.
With a fourth and eight at the Jackson 23-yard line, Parachek threw a 23-yard TD pass to fittingly No. 23, his brother Brennan Parachek, to push Dexter ahead 14-0 with 9:57 to play.
A 10-yard TD strike from Parachek to Evan Krolewski made it 21-0 with 7 minutes still to play in the opening quarter. And it appeared the rout was on – but Jackson had different plans.
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The Vikings scored on Riley’s 46-yard TD run and added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21-8. But what turned out to be a trend for the evening, Dexter answered Jackson’s score.
Parachek found Cal Bavineau in the corner of the end zone for a 6-yard TD connection. Somehow, Bavineau was able to keep his feet in bounds while making a reaching grab to give the home team a 28-8 lead with 32 seconds left in the opening quarter.
And there would be one more score in the first quarter. Riley went 53 yards to cut the lead to 28-16 with 22 seconds left in the opening period.
Early in the second quarter, Krolewski scored his second TD of the night on a 2-yard run to give Dexter a 35-16 lead. Parachek then tossed a 56-yard TD pass to Fuson right down the middle of the field to give Dexter a 42-16 lead with 5:05 left in the opening half.
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Again, Riley busted another long run. This time the senior went 62 yards to cut the deficit to 42-24 with 3:37 left in the half.
How is everyone doing? Need to take a break and catch your breath?
Like a replay from Dexter’s previous score, Parachek again found Fuson down field and the junior wide receiver raced 50 yards this time to make it 49-24 with 2:58 left in the half as the two teams continued to play gotcha – gotcha back.
With less than 2 minutes to go in the first half, Riley busted a 57-yard TD run and the Vikings again added two points to cut the lead to 49-32.
And, finally, the teams headed to halftime.
Dexter scored first in the second half, but this time Parachek and the Dreadnaughts’ offense was on the sideline for this one. Dexter’s Avery Berkehile made a great defensive play when he intercepted a Jackson pass and then raced 50 yards down the field for a score to make it 56-32.
Riley scored again on a 10-yard run to make it 56-38 with 6:47 left in the third quarter.
Dexter scored two more times to seal the deal. Parachek threw a 63-yard TD pass to Ty Rychener to make it 63-38 and then tossed a 43-yard scoring pass to Bavineau to make it 70-38.
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