After a wild night of rain, big offensive plays and two talented high school football teams battling to play again, the outcome would be settled in overtime. And this game certainly deserved some more time put on the clock during a miserable Friday night in Battle Creek as far as weather goes. The game, on the other hand, was a thrill ride from the opening kick – to that final kick.
With the game deadlocked at 42-42, Dexter headed to overtime and another close game in a season of close games. Not counting the Chelsea game, the Dreadaughts’ three losses were decided by a combined 10 points, including a one-point loss to Bedford and a two-point loss to Saline.
Dexter put the pressure on the Spartans, scoring on its first OT series on a run by junior running back Cole Cabana. But Lakeview blocked the extra point.
Lakeview’s Zach Kucharczyk, who had a monster game, scored on a run to tie the game at 48-48. And Mathew Bacik kicked the Spartans into the next round by converting the extra point for a 49-48 victory.
The loss ended incredible Dexter’s season with a 5-5 record and the program’s fourth straight playoff appearance.
It was not a good night for the SEC Red Division. All four teams lost in the opening round. Huron lost to Belleville 14-10, Saline lost to Canton 32-20, and Bedford fell 35-14 to Livonia Franklin.
Lakeview led 7-0 after the first quarter. 28 -yard TD run.
Lakeview faced a 4th and 7 at the Dexter 31-yard line and went for it, scoring a TD to take a 14-0 lead with 8:24 left until halftime.
Cal Bavineau and Cole Cabana hooked up on a 78-yard TD play with 7:18 to play in the first half to cut the deficit to 14-7. Bavineau lofted a perfect ball down the middle to a wide open Cabana who raced another 45 yards untouched for the score.
Lakeview’s Zach Kucharczyk scored his third TD of the game on a 62-yard TD run to push the home team’s lead to 21-7 with 7:03 left until halftime.
On their next series, Bavineau tried to set up a screen but the Lakeview defense was ready. Instead of trying to force it, the senior quarterback improvised and headed the other way, scrambling to his left. On the run, Bavineau threw the ball down field to where three Dexter players had gotten behind the defense and were wide open. Braeden Fuson caught the ball and ran another 25 yards into the end zone to bring the Dreadnaughts to within 21-14 with 5:46 to play in the wild second quarter.
Bavineau, doing a nice Fran Tarkenton impersonation, scrambled around before throwing a ball into the end zone that was tipped and caught by Cabana for a 20-yard TD to tie the game at 21-21 with 1:24 to play in the first half.
The game was all even at 21-21 at halftime.
After a long run to the Lakeview 20-yard line by Cabana, the Dreadnaughts took their first lead of the game on a 20-yard TD run for a 28-21 lead with 9:54 to play in the third quarter.
But just 2 minutes later, Kucharczyk scored from eight yards out to tie the game at 28-28.
Kucharczyk, carrying his team on his back, carried Lakeview to a 35-28 lead with 3:34 to play in the third quarter on a 35-yard TD run.
But with still 3:02 to play in the third quarter, Thomas Rayer scored from seven yards out to tie the game at 35-35.
Once again Kucharczyk put his team back in front on a 61-yard run to make it 42-35 with 9:51 to play in the game.
But Dexter wasn’t about to go quietly. Bavineau ran it in from four yards out to tie the game at 42-42 with 7:14 to play.
To watch video of the all the scoring plays check out the Battle Creek Enquirer HERE
