Take a message. Forward a text. Heck, send a fax if that’s what it takes. But get this note to future opponents of the Dexter Dreadnaughts: Don’t turn the ball over FOUR times in the first half.
Milford arrived in Dexter looking to do the impossible (well, at least extremely difficult) against the No. 1 team in the state in a Division 2 playoff opener on Friday night – another perfect evening for high school football. The Mavericks fumbled on their very first offensive play from scrimmage – and would throw three interceptions before halftime in a 41-15 loss to the home team playing before a huge home crowd.
The Dreadnaughts didn’t score on that opening fumble but they did turn other turnovers into points and built a dominating 31-0 lead at halftime. It was cruise control the rest of the night for the Dreadnaughts who cruise into the second round of the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 4.
Dexter will host South Lyon (7-3) who knocked off rival South Lyon East 30-27. The two schools met back in 2018 with South Lyon winning 31-24 in Dexter’s first MHSAA playoff appearance.
Milford ends the season at 5-5 overall while Dexter improved to 10-0. South Lyon, who lost its final regular-season game to South Lyon East, defeated Milford 31-21 in the second game of the season this year.
Dexter freshman Nathan Gersh recovered Milford’s game-opening fumble at the Mavericks’ 27-yard line. The Dreads scored a TD but it was called back for holding. They went for it on fourth and long and came up short, turning the ball back over to Milford.
After a Milford punt, Dexter got on the board with a 17-yard pass from Reeves Taylor to Brennan Parachek to finish off a 54-yard drive. Gerzon Herter hit the extra point and it was 7-0 with 6:42 left in the first quarter.
With just over 4 minutes to play in the quarter, Taylor was intercepted. But the Dreadnaughts got the ball right back on an interception by Davis Taylor – Reeves brother – at the Milford 20-yard line.
The Dreadnaughts lined Cole Cabana up at QB and the senior ran all seven offensive plays on the drive, finishing up with a 1-yard TD run on fourth and goal. Herter’s kick was good and Dexter led 14-0 with 11:57 to play in the second quarter.
Dexter’s Noah Pitts intercepted a Milford pass to give the Dreads a first and 10 at the visitor’s 39-yard line. After a penalty, Reeves Taylor threw a 46-yard TD to Micah Davis, who made some sweet moves in the open field before reaching the end zone. Herter’s kick gave the home team a 21-0 lead with 8:23 to play in the half.
Milford then started running right at Dexter and actually picked up several first downs on the Mavericks’ best drive of the half. But on third and long, Davis picked off a pass to end the drive and hand the ball back over to the offense.
With 1:24 left in the half, Reeves Taylor hit Parachek on a 32-yard TD pass to push the lead to 28-0 after Herter’s extra point.
Herter added a 43-yard field goal just before half to make it 31-0.
Parachek caught his third TD pass of the game, this time for 30 yards, to make it 38-0 in the third quarter. Herter would kick a 40-yard field goal for the final 41-15.
