Editor’s note: I saw Oasis in Toronto on Monday – so I’m in an Oasis kinda vibe.
Noel Gallagher is a very good singer but when you have Liam Gallagher in the band, you let the guy with vibrato, attitude and a much cooler voice handle most of the vocals. And if you are the Dexter football team and you are having trouble getting the ground game in gear, you let the guy with the vibrato, confidence and much stronger arm handle most of the offense.
In other words, “Today (Thursday) is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you.”
And did Wonderwall Cooper Arnedt ever throw it on Thursday night in Dexter’s dominant 50-27 win over host Brighton in the 2025 season opener. The senior quarterback completed 25 of 34 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns in an amazing showing especially considering it was opening night of the tour.
SEE WELOVEDEXTER PHOTO GALLERY HERE
Arnedt focused his attention on two key targets throughout the evening against the host Bulldogs on a perfect night for football. Cole Novara and Holden Niemi recorded over 300 of those passing yards between the two of them. Novara, a senior wideout and one of the best football players in the state, had 216 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Only a junior, Niemi had six catches for 106 yards.
Senior Oliver Hutchison also had a big game with five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. William Simpson and Brady Arbaugh each had a catch.
John Michael Jerome, a junior, had 16 carries for 88 yards and three touchdowns.
The Dreadnaughts set the tone and confidence early in this game. Facing a fourth down at the Brighton 35-yard line, the Dreads went for it and delivered. Arnedt hit Novara on a 35-yard TD play to give Dexter a 7-0 lead with 10:15 left in the first quarter.
SEE WELOVEDEXTER PHOTO GALLERY HERE
Dexter’s defense got the ball right back when Mitchell Ward picked off QB Tayden Plave to set up the Dreads at the Brighton 31-yard line. On the very next play, Arnedt and Novara hooked up again for 31 yards and a 14-0 lead with 8:48 left in the opening quarter.
It went from bad to worse for the home team. Punting deep on their side of the field, the ball sailed over Brighton punter Sam Alamat’s head. Alamat was able to chase down the ball before it went out of the back of the end zone but was tackled in a sea of Dreadnaughts for a safety. Dexter led 16-0 with 3:08 left in the opening quarter.
A 33-yard field goal by Sam Cormier made it 19-0 with 2:05 left in the quarter.
Brighton got on the board on a 38-yard TD run with no time left on the clock in the first quarter as the game headed to the second quarter with Dexter leading 19-7.
SEE WELOVEDEXTER PHOTO GALLERY HERE
The Dreadnaughts pushed the lead to 26-7 with 10:49 left in the first half after a 3-yard TD run by Jerome.
A 30-yard field goal by Cormier made it 29-7 with 5:56 left in the second quarter.
Brighton cut into the lead after a 59-yard TD pass play made it 29-14 with 3:48 left in the first half.
Dexter answered right away. An 11-yard pass from Arnedt to Hutchison gave the Dreadnaughts a 36-14 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 72-yard run to cut the lead to 36-20.
But the Dreadnaughts answered the first time they touched the ball. Jerome scored on a 15-yard run to make it 43-20 and added a 12-yard TD run to give the Dreads 50 points and a comfortable win on opening night.
Dexter will open league play at Monroe on Friday. The Trojans lost 7-0 to Plymouth in their season opener. In other games of interest, Pioneer defeated Flushing 27-24, Huron defeated Flint Kearsley 47-6 and Saline defeated Rockford 37-28. Chelsea defeated Detroit Denby 41-26.
SEE WELOVEDEXTER PHOTO GALLERY HERE
