One down, one to go – at least that’s how the Dexter football team is approaching the postseason. One game at a time. But if the Dreadnaughts keep playing like this with their collective foot on the pedal this train won’t stop until it pulls up to Ford Field Station.
Dexter opened the 2024 playoffs with a convincing, resounding and satisfying 42-14 win Friday night over visiting South Lyon East. The Dreadnaughts led from start to finish, leading 14-0 after one quarter, 21-7 at halftime and 35-14 after three quarters.
While it was only the second time in six games the Dreadnaughts have allowed double-digit points, Dexter dominated both sides of the ball and advanced to the second round of playoffs. The Dreads will host East Lansing at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Al Ritt Stadium.
East Lansing advanced with a 43-22 win over Milford in a first-round game on Friday night. The Trojans are 7-3 and have won four straight since losing consecutive games in the middle of the season. It will be a good test for Dexter’s dominant defense – East Lansing has scored 178 points in its last four games.
Ronny Johnson helped get Dexter off and running in the win over South Lyon East. The senior running back had TD runs of 26 and 15 yards to give the home team a 14-0 start.
In the second quarter, Cole Novara caught a 17-yard TD pass from Cooper Arnedt to make it 21-0. The Cougars finally got on the board with a 5-yard TD to make it 21-7 at halftime.
South Lyon East cut the lead to 21-14 in the third quarter to get back in the ballgame and make it a one-score contest. But Dexter did what Dexter does – the Dreadnaughts answered with a 6-yard TD pass from Arnedt to Nathan Gersh and a 45-yard TD run from Johnson to make it 35-14 before the third quarter ended.
Johnson, who added a TD on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter, had a monster game with 263 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns. Jack Votaw had 25 yards on the ground on nine carries.
Arnedt finished 10-17 passing for 91 yards and two TDs. He also ran for 36 yards on five carries.
Jaiden Juback (5 catches, 39 yards), Novara (4 catches, 46 yards) and Gersh (1 catch, 6 yards) led the Dexter receiving group.
Dexter’s defense was led by junior linebacker Gersh who was all over the field, making 15 tackles including 2 for loss and a quarterback sack. Senior safety Connor Robeson had a big night with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery and senior linebacker Owen Wondrash added 7 tackles.
