Let’s get into the Bedford football history book for some perspective.
The Kicking Mules, who have reached the state playoffs in seven consecutive years, lost every game in 2001 but never by 44 points or more. Over the last two decades they have lost some lopsided games to Saline but never by 44 or more points. The last time Bedford lost by more than 44 points was Oct. 1, 1999 in a game against Findlay, a team from Ohio, when the Kicking Mules played in the Great Lakes League.
In 2010 and 2013, Bedford went undefeated until losing in the State Regional Final round. They have gone 8-3 the last two seasons, which included a 37-36 win over Dexter in 2021 and a 27-6 loss to Dexter last year.
What have we learned – well, that Friday night’s 44-0 beatdown by the Dreadnaughts was not only impressive but quite rare. Bedford doesn’t get blown out very often and Dexter’s victory was a statement heard all around the SEC – and beyond.
Speaking of rare, the Dreadnaughts were coming off a very rare 0-2 start to its season before Friday’s huge win before a huge crowd at Al Ritt Stadium in Dexter. While the offense moved the ball well in those first two games and put up a combined 52 points, the defense had allowed 74 points to Franklin and Saline, so the shutout is a confidence builder moving forward for the defense.
After the Dexter offense took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, the Dreadnaughts scored four consecutive touchdowns to take a 31-0 halftime lead. Ronny Johnson scored on a 24-yard run and a 4-yard run, and Cole Novara scored twice – on a 49-yard TD pass from QB Cooper Arnedt and an 82-yard punt return.
Arnedt threw his second TD pass of the night in the third quarter on a 30-yard toss to Jaiden Juback. Sophomore Mason McAllister threw an 18-yard TD pass to sophomore Dylan Darby in the fourth quarter.
Arnedt, only a sophomore, continues his strong start to the season. He was 9-18 passing for 173 yards and two scores. Johnson, a junior running back, carried the ball 19 times for 150 yards. Sophomore Jack Votaw had 19 yards rushing.
On the receiving end of the stat sheet, Novara, only a sophomore, had six catches for 110 yards. Juback, a junior, had two grabs for 54 yards and a score.
Bedford came into the game with 41 point in its first two games but were shut out by a Dexter defense led by Grant Goodrich (10 tackles, two for loss); Owen Wondrash (10 tackles, one for loss and a blocked punt); Noah Pitts (seven tackles, three for loss); and Davis Taylor (seven tackles, two for loss). Up front for Dexter, Chance Sobbry and Xavier Cook each recorded six tackles in the win.
Dexter plays a rare Thursday night game this week at Pioneer. The Pioneers lost their season-opener 36-30 to Adrian before knocking off Lincoln 21-7 in week two. Pioneer lost 56-0 to Saline on Friday.
Football: Young Dexter comes up short in SEC opener at Saline (SEE WLAA-D photo gallery)
