Nathan Gersh, a starter on Dexter’s dominant defense, was asked what makes Dexter football so special.
“I feel we want it more than everybody else, and if something knocks us down, we will get back up even stronger,” he says.
The Dreadnaughts proved exactly that after dropping their first two games to start the season. Anyone writing off Dexter after week two hasn’t been paying attention. This program is among the elite in the state where a trip to the state playoffs has become part of the schedule.
So, what was that week of practice like after that second loss?
“The week of practice after our second loss was like nothing I’ve ever seen,” says Gersh, only a sophomore. “It looked like we were preparing for the state championship. The confidence was not down. I would almost say it was up due to how well we prepared. I don’t think I have seen the team more focused since the week of practice before our state semifinal game last year.”
That focus has resulted in five consecutive wins and a driver’s seat for another run in the state playoffs. This year’s team is loaded with talent, youth and depth – along with a highly regarded coaching staff. Mix all that together with maximum effort and you get the 2023 Dexter Dreadnaughts.
“What makes this year’s team special is the talent we have,” says Gersh. “Although it is young talent, it is talent that is comparable to last year‘s team. And I think that’s what makes us special, even though we are so young we are still competing with other teams at a very high-level.”
Gersh has been a staple on a talented defense that has been playing at a high level all season. They have basically pitched five consecutive shutouts (Huron’s points came on special teams and late in the game with most starters celebrating on the bench). You don’t get much more dominant than goose eggs on the scoreboard.
And they are from done – Dexter finishes the season against Lincoln and rival Chelsea before the state playoffs kick off.
“A few team goals are definitely to come at least runner-up and maybe even tie for first in the SEC Red and to win districts,” says Gersh, a starting linebacker who had an interception in the win over Huron. “An individual goal for me is to pick up a few more college football offers.”
Nathan, the son of Dan and Becki Gersh, has a 3.8 GPA and also runs track and power-lifts. He played on the varsity team as a freshman when the Dreads won three playoff games before falling to Forest Hills Central 20-17 in a state semifinal game.
“Last year was amazing,” he says. “I started on varsity as a freshman at middle linebacker. I was one of the leading tacklers on the team and we made history by making a run to the semis. It was an unreal experience.”
Gersh hopes to win a state title with his Dexter teammates and become an All-State linebacker before heading off to college to continue his football career.
“A short-term goal for me in football is to be All-State at linebacker and make it as far as we did in the playoffs, if not further than we did last year,” he says. “A long-term goal is to get my college paid for playing football.”
Sounds like a plan – one that he works hard everyday to achieve.
