NEW MADRID -- Dexter's matchup with New Madrid Central on Friday was an example of missed opportunities.
Quazavion Jackson rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns, and New Madrid beat the Bearcats 22-8 during a game that featured a 45-minute lightning delay and a 15-minute delay because the lights went out on the east side of the stadium.
The Bearcats (1-2) fumbled six times -- losing one -- and committed six penalties for 73 yards.
"We can't play teams like this and give them the football (and) commit the amount of penalties we did because it keeps them in the football game and takes us out," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said.
"We had some opportunities. I think we dropped three (of) what could've been interceptions, which were good plays by our kids but we've got to take advantage of the opportunity and catch it."
The Bearcats had a touchdown called back in the first quarter. Corbin Strong broke loose for what appeared to be a 16-yard scoring run. However, they committed a holding penalty, negating the play.
Quarterback Peyton Driskill attempted a pair of passes, including one to Nate Gargas in the end zone on fourth down, but both fell incomplete, leaving the Bearcats empty handed on the promising possession.
The Bearcats held New Madrid to 22 points after it scored a combined 118 in its first two games.
However, the Eagles were better defensively after allowing 78 points in their previous two contests.
"Our defense is stellar," New Madrid coach Tyler Fullhart said. "We do a very good job on defense. We scored a lot of points in the first couple of games, too, which allowed the other teams to score some points and make it look a little bit different. ... We had a good game plan coming into tonight."
The Eagles (3-0) amassed 329 yards of total offense, while holding Dexter to 202. They rushed for 144 yards and had 185 yards passing.
Quarterback Christen Phillips completed 12 of 23 passes for 185 yards with Johnnie Walker and Austin Davis combining for nine catches. Walker caught five for 102 yards, and Davis caught four for 56 yards.
"We ... pride ourselves in being able to do all facets of the game well," Fullhart said. "Coach Pixley and Dexter did a good job of kind of minimizing that for us, so we had to go to some different answers. I'm just proud of the way the guys kept competing, kept playing."
Dexter rushed for 138 yards and passed for 64.
Strong gained a team-high 74 yards rushing on nine attempts, and Caleb Hoggard had 23 carries for 64 yards.
Driskill completed only three of 15 passes for 64 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Braxton Foster caught all three passes.
"We put the ball on the ground way too much," Pixley said. "Every time we got going on offense with something good, we'd come back with something bad, either a fumble or a penalty. I have to do a better job coaching. Our program has just got ... to make sure that we don't commit those types of mistakes because you can't win a football game (that way)."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles scored on a 9-yard run by Jackson with 10:30 left in the second. Jackson scored the two-point conversion, and the Eagles led 8-0.
The scoring drive was set up by a 30-yard reception by Walker and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against the Bearcats late in the first quarter.
Officials instructed the players to leave the field and fans to come off the metal bleachers because of lightning in the area with 6:28 left in the second quarter.
"It was a crazy night. Different distractions," Fullhart said. "We could've easily got distracted, and these guys have worked hard on their mentality. It showed tonight, I think."
Once play resumed, the Bearcats gained a little momentum before halftime when Driskill found Foster on a pass in the left flat and Foster raced 56 yards for a touchdown with 1:03 left in the half. Their two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Bearcats' scoring drive began at their own 47 because New Madrid attempted to convert a fourth-and-11 at midfield on a fake punt. However, punter Jay Maltbia was stopped after a 4-yard gain.
The lights went out only five seconds into the second half. When play resumed, both teams didn't gain a first down on their first two possessions.
On the Eagles' third possession, Jackson broke loose for a 41-yard gain. Dexter's Justin Kenley tackled Jackson at the 3-yard line, momentarily keeping him out of the end zone. However, on the next play, Jackson ran to his right and scored with 5:21 left in the third quarter. He scored the two-point conversion, giving the Eagles a 16-6 lead.
New Madrid caught a break on its next possession when Jamal Ranson recovered a muffed punt at the Bearcats' 18.
On the next play, Jackson took a handoff up the middle for a touchdown with 1:29 left in the third quarter, and when Phillips' two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, the Eagles led 22-8.
The Eagles had a golden opportunity to score a fourth touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the Dexter defense stopped them 2 yards short of the end zone.
A 45-yard run by Jackson sparked the drive, but he was stopped after a 2-yard gain on fourth down from the Bearcats' 4.
The Bearcats will have next Friday night off and will return to action Sept. 21 when they host Doniphan in their homecoming game.