October 7, 2018

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats were behind the eight ball early Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium. The Kennett Indians scored on their first four possessions and rolled to a 44-0 win over the Bearcats. With the win, the Indians wrapped up a second straight undefeated SEMO Central Conference championship...

Kyle Smith Dexter Statesman

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats were behind the eight ball early Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium.

The Kennett Indians scored on their first four possessions and rolled to a 44-0 win over the Bearcats. With the win, the Indians wrapped up a second straight undefeated SEMO Central Conference championship.

"I just think that they came out with a chip on their shoulder," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "They've been playing very good football. They played with confidence. We didn't play with confidence, and it showed."

The Bearcats (2-4, 0-3 SEMO South) managed only 36 yards of total offense with 46 coming through the air. They lost 10 yards rushing on 12 attempts. They only gained two first downs.

The Indians (6-1, 3-0) gained 328 yards of total offense, 214 rushing and 114 passing. They amassed 18 first downs.

Kennett opened the game with a 25-yard kickoff return by Marsayv'aun Harrell.

"We had a great start," Kennett coach Joel Wyatt said. "(Harrell) had a great opening kickoff and got us into good field position then we punched that in. Dexter's first possession, they turned the ball over. Then we scored on a long pass to Justin Woods. Just like that, we're up two scores."

Kennett began its opening possession at the Dexter 37-yard line. Harrell's 22-yard gain on third-and-8 set up Elijah Lemons' 13-yard touchdown run. Harrell scored the two-point conversion, and the Indians led 8-0 with 10:04 left in the first quarter.

Harrell intercepted a pass by Peyton Driskill three plays into the Bearcats' first possession. Harrell returned it to the Dexter 21.

The Indians converted a fourth-and-9 with a 10-yard pass from quarterback Bodey Ellis to Carter Maddox, and Lemons scored his second touchdown on a 9-yard run. Harrell scored the two-point conversion, and the Indians led 14-0 with 6:56 left in the quarter.

Kennett struck again 10 seconds later.

The Bearcats fumbled on the first play of their second possession, and on the next down, Ellis connected with Woods for a 31-yard touchdown and a 22-0 lead. Kennett's two-point conversion attempted failed.

After Seth Rogers returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to the Dexter 37, Hillis took his first snaps at quarterback since the season opener and completed a pair of passes: a 30-yarder to Braxton Foster and an 8-yarder to Rogers, giving the Bearcats possession at the Kennett 28.

However, the Bearcats lost 5 yards on third-and-2, and Hillis' pass on fourth down fell incomplete.

The Indians responded with a 67-yard touchdown drive capped by a 13-yard scoring run by Joquan Williams. The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and they led 28-0 with 7:33 left in the first half.

"We really felt like we dominated for a quarter and a third, then we couldn't get anything going the last part of the second quarter," Wyatt said. "They jumped into a different front. We had trouble blocking it. I think when you get up 28-0, you get a little complacent. Dexter took control of the line of scrimmage there."

Kennett punted on its final two possessions of the first half, but the Bearcats didn't fare any better.

"At times, we looked good on defense. (We) never looked good on offense," Pixley said.

Driskill's second interception set up the Indians' first scoring drive of the second half.

Maddox picked off the pass and returned it 14 yards to the Dexter 21. After gaining 4 yards on the first three plays, Ellis and Maddox connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Parker McClain caught the two-point conversion pass, and the Indians led 36-0 with 9:47 left in the third quarter, enacting the 35-point mercy rule and the running clock.

On the Bearcats' next possession, a quarterback sack pinned them at their own 14, which led to a 25-yard punt by Corey Hawkins.

The Indians took possession at the Dexter 39. Ellis capped the drive with runs of 14 and 18 yards, the latter scoring a touchdown. Ellis scored the two-point conversion for a 44-0 lead with 2:58 left in the third quarter.

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