The success of the Dexter Bearcats' football season could boil down to execution on offense.
"We've got running backs back. That's where we're experienced," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "We have three starting linemen back. We have starting receivers back. Offensively, there's a good core that played a lot last year. We just have to make sure we execute better on the offensive side of the ball and make sure our defense isn't on the field the whole night long."
The inability to sustain drives on offense proved to be a downfall in last year's 4-6 season that concluded with a five-game losing streak.
"We probably have six starters back off a team, which I felt like the defense was pretty solid last year," said Pixley, who is beginning his second tenure as the Bearcats' head coach. "Just offensively, we needed to extend possessions and not just be on defense all the time."
Starting linebackers Jett Featherston and Corbin Strong are back, and defensive backs Nate Gargas and Seth Rogers are returning starters. Defensive end Braxton Foster and linemen Luke Boyer, Brock Simmons and Colten Gibson return.
Pixley said that Dalton Warren received minutes at defensive end, as did Ernesto Riviera in the backfield.
Caleb Hoggard, Corbin Strong and Featherston return at running back.
"They're a year older. They're all seniors," Pixley said. "Hopefully, this year, they'll correct some things. It just boils down to they just have to show up everyday and be a great teammate. Practice hard and when the game comes around, play as hard as they can. If we do that, we'll have a chance to succeed."
Boyer, Simmons and Gibson return to anchor the offensive line.
Gargas, Rogers and Riviera return at wide receiver. Riviera is out with an injury, and Pixley isn't sure when he will return.
New quarterback
The Bearcats will feature a new starting quarterback. Junior Haden Hillis, who didn't play football last year, takes over for Ben Sindle.
"Anytime you have to break in a new quarterback, that's concerning," Pixley said. "That position will be OK. ... We're trying to develop him. He's the guy right now. We feel like he's improved so much. He's only going to get better and better. We feel like he's going to do a good job for us."
Sophomore Peyton Driskill enters the season as Hillis' backup.
"He throws the ball well," Pixley said. "We feel like's going to be a good player for us as well someday."
The Bearcats will rely on their running game early.
"We have to run the football. We're designed to run right now," Pixley said. "I think our passing game should get better and better as the year goes on. ... We hope to get closer to that 50-50 run-to-pass as the season goes on. Whether we can do that remains to be seen."
The numbers game
The Bearcats feature 15 seniors on this year's squad.
"We have a pretty solid corps there," Pixley said. "We need to realize that we have some kids back from a 4-6 team. I think they realize that if what you've done in the past hasn't worked all the time for you, you've got to change something, and I think we're trying to change, clean up some things. Try to be not just better players but better people and make sure we hold each and every one of ourselves accountable."
Only 34 players showed up for the team's media day Aug. 8.
"I don't like the numbers. I wish they were more," Pixley said. "I don't like the trend that football is on right now, but if we sit around and worry about who's not here, then we won't take care of the kids who are. So we focus on the kids who are here and we want to make them as best as we possibly can."
Those numbers mean many players will play on offense and defense, as well as special teams.
"We've had two-way guys since the first year Dexter ever had football. That's normal," Pixley said. "You've got to get in shape, and how it is now, they give you three weeks to get ready for your first game. You try to get ready in three weeks, and that's impossible to get into full-game shape. You're going to have to gut a lot of it out. You're going to have to rotate kids. Hopefully, the kids you rotate in there are prepared just like the starters, and they execute just as well."
Special teams
When healthy, Hoggard will handle kickoffs and extra points. He and Corey Hawkins will punt, and the Bearcats will use various players to return kicks and punts.
Revamped schedule
Salem and Doniphan, which is fielding its first varsity team since 1969, are newcomers to the Bearcats' schedule. They will host Salem in their home opener Aug. 31 and will host Doniphan on Sept. 21.
Three teams, including longtime rivals Poplar Bluff and Sikeston, are no longer on the Bearcats' schedule. Drexel, who the Bearcats' played in week four last season, is no longer an opponent.
The Bearcats were unable to find a team to fill that spot in week four and will have only eight games during the regular season before opening district play Oct. 25.
District assignments
MSHSAA announced district assignments for the upcoming season Friday, and Dexter's Class 3 District 1 retains six of the eight teams from a year ago.
Fredericktown, Kennett, Park Hills Central, Potosi and Ste. Genevieve are back.
New Madrid County Central dropped to Class 2, and Salem moves to District 5.
Doniphan, returning to varsity football for the first time since 1979, and Perryville, which competed in Class 4 last season, join the Bearcats' district.