Homecoming week is always a difficult one for coaches. The teenage minds they coach are being pulled in several different directions. Making this week even worse for Dexter football coach Kevin Goltra, is its also the week of the Stoddard County Fair.
Coming off a huge win over Sikeston where the Bearcats were hyper-focused, he now needs them to maintain that focus for an even more important game when on the side those teenagers have classes, band obligations, a school dance, etc.
Goltra addressed it first thing Monday.
"That football game is as important as any of them," He told the team. "I think the fair may affect us more than the actual homecoming this week. Sometimes the kids are in the band and the parade and stuff like that. The kids just know they have to put in the work and it is going to be business."
Dexter hosts Caruthersville Friday with district and conference implications on the line. With a win, Dexter would also secure a winning record for the first time since 2011, which was a preseason goal for the seniors.
"Sikeston is a great win for us and we are excited about it, but this Caruthersville game is probably more important to us for our goals," Goltra said.
Caruthersville, it seems, goes as the turnover margin goes. The explosive Tigers forced five turnovers against Malden and ended the Green Wave's four year regular season winning streak.
The next week, Caruthersville quarterback Charles Golliday threw four first half interceptions against Kennett and the Tigers were down 22-0 at halftime before losing 42-22.
"You have to expect them to be on track. It is a conference game and there is a history there," Goltra said.
After watching tape, Goltra added that Caruthersville is the fastest and most explosive team Dexter will have faced this season.
"They are so fast. Their offense is really good. They make a couple miscues every once in awhile, but when they click, they click really well," Goltra said.
The Tigers put up 69 points against Portageville and 66 last week against Charleston. They've scored at least 22 points in every game while the Bearcats have done that twice in wins over New Madrid Central and Drexel.
Dexter continues to be relatively healthy midway through the season. Several starters are nursing ongoing aches and pains, but Goltra said the team is in good shape overall.
In beating Sikeston 12-0 last week, Caleb Hoggard ran for 84 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries, nearly half of Dexter's total offense. Many of those carries were out of the wildcat formation. Dexter unveiled it for the first time against Sikeston with an eye on making the power running game more formidable.
Goltra said the in future weeks, the team will look to add passing plays for Hoggard to prevent teams from loading the box.
Corbin Strong added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, most of them in the fourth quarter.
Dexter will look to control the ball and time of possession against Caruthersville's explosive offense.