The Dexter Dreadnaughts opened the season with a 1 point victory over Livonia Franklin and then lost 34-14 to undefeated Saline in week 2. Since then, the Dreadnaughts have looked more like the Spirit of Australia (the world’s fastest boat is the Spirit of Australia, which holds the water speed record of 317.6 mph) than a battleship from the early 20th century (which is what a dreadnaught is/was).
Whatever analogy you choose, the Dexter football team has been crushing their last six opponents by a combined score of 310-68, including Friday night’s 41-23 win over visiting Lincoln (3-5). The Railspitters were the first team in the last four games to score in double digits on the Dreadnaughts who have scored 40 or more points in their last six games.
This coming Friday might be a little bit more of a challenge as Dexter lines up against rival Chelsea. The Bulldogs, who have won seven straight since opening the season with a 31-14 loss to Grand Rapids Northview (who are undefeated), knocked off Dexter 31-21 last year. This year’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chelsea.
Against Lincoln, Dexter took an early 14-0 lead on a 64-yard TD run by Ronny Johnson and a 21-yard TD pass from Cooper Arnedt to Cole Novara. Lincoln got on the board on a 20-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 14-7 after one quarter.
Johnson scored on a 2-yard run to make it 21-7. After Lincoln kicked a field goal, Arnedt threw a 28-yard TD pass to Jack DeMerell.
The extra-point attempt was missed which brings us to the Dexter record book. Prior to that miss, Dexter kicker Trey Kuhr set the school record for most consecutive extra points made with 44. The old record was 37 shared by Alex Tahari and Blake Cislo.
Dexter led 27-10 at halftime.
Johnson’s 5-yard TD run pushed the lead to 34-10 in the third quarter. Lincoln scored on a pass play to make it 34-16. Johnson scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to make it 41-16.
Johnson, the senior Northwestern commit, had another huge day carrying the football. He finished with 219 yards rushing on 26 attempts with four touchdowns.
Arnedt was 14-18 passing for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
Three receivers had huge games for Dexter: Novara (6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD); Juback (4 receptions, 81 yards); and DeMerell (3 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD)
Dexter established control early in the game last week against Monroe, taking a 14-0 first quarter lead on a 4-yard TD pass from Cooper Arnedt to Jaiden Juback and a 71-yard TD run by Arnedt.
The Dreadnaughts scored four times in the second half to pretty much put the game away.
Arnedt scored on an 11-yard run, Juback caught a 30-yard TD pass from Arnedt, Ronny Johnson scored on a 1-yard run and Cole Novara caught a 6-yard TD pass from Arnedt. Johnson added a 5-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Arnedt finished the Monroe game 13 of 16 passing for 177 yards.
