The three and four hour football practices everyday might seem a bit extreme for high school students, but there is no denying how they have helped lead to an amazing season for the Dexter Dreadnaughts. The proof has been on the scoreboard, in the standings, in the record books and all over the community.
Those practices, led by Coach Phil Jacobs and his experienced coaching staff, pay off in many other ways that the average fan might not notice. Sure, they see the results, but they don’t see the reasons behind the results.
Let’s rewind to Friday’s playoff game against visiting South Lyon. With 5:41 left in the first half and the South Lyon offense on the move, Gerzon Herter, who is picking his moments to shine at the right time, intercepted his second pass of the game to kill the drive at the Dexter 35-yard line.
That interception was a direct result of those long practices.
When South Lyon came to the line of scrimmage and the play started, something looked very familiar to the senior defensive back. “I felt good about that whole play,” he says. “I knew what they were going to do. They run a play where the tight end just runs straight and I thought right away that this is that play. I was able to get over to where I needed to be and made the play. It was thrown right where I expected it.”
Knowing the play is obviously a big advantage – it’s like knowing you are getting a fastball and hitting it out of the park. And Herter hit it out of the park.
“When you notice the play because you saw it on film and know it’s coming, it’s one of the best feelings,” says Herter, a starting cornerback on the defense. “Our defense has gotten this far because we study our film enough to the point where it’s more just do, than think. When we prepare the right way, we don’t have to think as much and can just have fun out there. And when we are having fun, we are at our best.”
Herter says his first interception in the 24-7 win over the Lions came at the right time in the game. “My first interception was a big tone setter even though we didn’t score off the turnover but it got the crowd and team going,” he says. “It was a big play at the right time.”
Dexter (11-0) will play Midland in a Regional Final on Friday at Dexter. Midland advanced with a 41-34 victory Friday night over Waterford Mott in a game that was tied 27-27 at halftime. The Chemics went 8-1 in the regular season with their only loss in week two to Mt. Pleasant. They defeated Swartz Creek 42-15 in their first playoff game on Oct. 28.
Herter, a three year starter for the Dreadnaughts, has 33 tackles this season and three interceptions. He says the Dexter defense is “special” this year and they certainly have the stats to back it up. The Dreads have allowed just 9.5 points per game and haven’t allowed more than 15 in a game since the season-opener.
“We finally have a senior-led defense, and I think that’s been the big key for us this year,” says Herter. “We have great leadership and the younger guys know how much this year means to us. The seniors have taught the younger guys that every practice matters and that every play matters – just like we learned from seniors in previous years. We have done well this year because we have 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense who want to be successful and are willing to work for it.”
Herter, who was All-League Honorable Mention last year as a junior, understands the offense has gotten a lot of publicity – and rightfully so. But there are two sides of a coin and when you flip it over you better have a strong defense if you are going to shine.
“Our defense has been strong all season and we can make the big plays when we have to,” he says. “Overall, our defense has 11 guys playing for each other and playing for the team, and we are all really close and we all trust each other. There is something about this year’s defense that is special and it’s been a big part of our success.”
Another big part of the team’s success has come on special teams. And Herter has played a huge role in that third side of the football coin. Dexter has been using two kickers all season, Herter, who kicks all the extra points and senior Nick Doletzky, who handles the kickoffs.
The two kickers have both booted their way into the Dexter record books – both have kicked a school-record 49-yard field goal this year. Herter has taken every extra point and has only missed once all season (against Bedford) and is 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts.
“We split reps in practice, and I’m kind of set as the starter on extra points and he handles the kick offs,” says Herter. “On field goals it just depends on how I’m feeling at the moment. Like in the last game, I just felt like he was the better choice to try that kick and he made it. We really support each other. It’s great that we have two good kickers and I think our kicking game has been really good.”
Herter has lost track of how many extra-points he’s made – that shows just how many he’s made.
“I used to play soccer until high school so kicking came natural to me because of my time playing soccer,” he says. “I never got my opportunity in high school until this year and now I can show what I can do.”
Herter also can do quite a bit on the lacrosse field and hopes to play the sport in college. “Lacrosse has always been my main sport and I had a really good year last year,” he says. “I was second in goals last year and hope to get even more opportunities this year.”
Right now, Herter is busy with football. He’s got those four hour practices during the week to help him prepare for those Friday night games under the lights that are getting brighter every game. And when he and his teammates are prepared, they can just go out and have fun. Boy, are they having fun – and taking the whole community along for the ride.
