In the second quarter of Dexter’s season-opening win at Livonia Franklin, junior QB Cooper Arnedt fired a strike over the middle to Jaiden Juback. The senior wide receiver caught the ball inside the 10-yard line but didn’t settle for just a big first-down catch. Juback shrugged off a Franklin tackler like most people flick away a fly and crossed the goal line for a touchdown.
Juback wasn’t going to be stopped. And that just might be the mantra for the 2024 Dexter football team.
“My main goal for this season is to go undefeated, which has other small goals built into it,” said Juback after the Franklin victory. “In order to go undefeated, we have to beat Saline (Friday in Dexter), beat Chelsea, and win states.”
That won’t be easy but this team is certainly built for big things – on both sides of the ball.
“I think what makes our team so special is the diversity that we have,” Juback said. “Any skill player on the offense can score at any time, and that’s what makes us so dangerous.”
The Dreadnaughts opened the season in dramatic fashion, with a 27-26 overtime victory at Franklin. The game was like a rollercoaster but Dexter ended up on top. It’s certainly a game the Dreads can point to as one where they didn’t play their best but still got the best result in the end.
“The Franklin game didn’t go as planned,” Juback said. “But it did feel good to get the first win under the belt. We suffered a rough loss last year to them so it feels much better to start 1-0 this year.”
And that’s just the start for Juback and the Dreadnaughts.
Like Juback said, Dexter is going to put up plenty of points this season. They have a big, talented and hard-working offensive line that will clear the path for some explosive offensive talents, such as Juback. The speedy and quick receiver is going to draw plenty of attention in the secondary, which will only open things up for others.
Juback, a senior, is also a leader. And he’s not afraid to speak up.
SEE DEXTER-FRANKLIN PHOTO GALLERY
“I like to talk in our offense only group chat that we made, and assure them that we need to take it not only one game at a time, but one practice, and even one play at a time,” he says. “We need to make sure we are 100% locked in, and know that our team is able to beat anybody that is put on our schedule, especially with the talent and coaching we have. I have tried to step up as more of a leader this year, which I think I can still improve on a lot, and is something I’m still working on.”
Last year was another solid season for the Dreadnaughts. But there is a feeling of unfinished business among the players and coaches.
“I think winning my first playoff game was one of my favorite parts of last season,” Juback said. “Aside from that, I love playing games and coming to practice every day with the guys, and it just feels right.
“I had a very important and busy offseason. I did lots of training with 7on7s, rising stars, valor, receiver training, QB training with Cooper, lifting on my own, speed training, and work at the field by myself. This doesn’t just go for me, the rest of the team worked equally as hard, and we are expecting big things.”
Jaiden, the son of Vicki and John Juback, also stands out in the classroom. He has a 3.9 GPA and also plays baseball for the Dreadnaughts. He’s looking to play football in college – either D1 or D2.
“I would love to end up somewhere in the MAC or GLIAC,” he says.
But there is unfinished business on the gridiron to tend to first. “I am most proud of being a part of history,” he said of playing for the Dreadnaughts. “We are one of the teams that has tuned this city around, and will be the first to hopefully it all!”
Football: Dexter stops Franklin in OT (updated) – See WLAA-D photogallery
