As The Dexter Bearcats prepare to try and break a four-game losing streak and win their first game of the season at Malden Friday night, a closer look at some key statistics shows why the team as been fighting an up hill battle.

Granted, the competition has been tough, and injuries have played havoc with the Bearcats' lineup, but there has also been a recurring story line in the four lopsided losses to open the season.

Dexter has gotten off to an incredibly slow start in each of the first four games. The offense has struggled to put points on the board early, and the defense has been unable to come up with the big stop at crunch time.

Dexter has been outscored 56-7 in the first quarter, and 61-13 in the second. Just 20 points in eight quarters of football before the half will not win many games. The team has done better in the second half, but by that time, the 'Cats are too far behind to make a push and have a legitimate shot at winning the game.

Part of the problem has been third down, where the Bearcats have only converted 14 of 51 (27 percent) attempts, while their opponents are successful 55 percent if the time (22-of-40). Dexter has been better on fourth down, converting 9-of-21 (43 percent), but the opposition has been nearly unstoppable with a 75 percent success rate (6-of-8).

Much of the offense's trouble converting on third down can be attributed to turnovers, blown plays the inability to gain positive yardage on first and second down, leaving the unit in third-and-long situations.

These same problems then leave the defense vulnerable. Opponents hold a 13-7 edge over the Bearcats in take aways. While the opposition has eight interceptions, the Bearcats are still looking for their first.

Dexter only has one sack this season, while Dexter's quarterback has been sacked 11 times for minus 54 yards. Facing third-and-long, defenses know the Bearcats will be throwing and they can bring the pressure, which has given the offensive line problems.

On paper, the Bearcats are holding their own in total net yards. Opponents have rolled up 1,400 yards of offense, while Dexter is respectable with 1,162. Time of possession is actually in Dexter's favor (102:33 to 89:27).

But these statistics are misleading. Turnovers have set up Dexter's opponent with a short field, thus needing fewer yards to score, while they have also been able to score on big plays, reducing their time with the ball.

Dexter has suffered more than its share of injuries which has forced Dexter coach Aaron Pixley to use a different lineup every game. Younger players have been thrust into starting roles, maybe before they are ready. But that is football.

But the season is not a loss. There is still a lot of meaningful games to be played before we close the book on this year's Bearcat team. The younger players are gaining experience. Injured players are returning while others are getting closer to being ready to resume action.

Dexter's coaching staff isn't giving up and neither are the players.

The Green Wave are coming off a 41-8 victory over Portageville, their first win of the season. The 3-1 Green Wave have lost a close contest to Scott City (14-6), then have been dealt defeats at the hands of two state-ranked teams in Hayti (27-0) and Thayer (41-12).

Malden's speed will pose the same problems for Dexter to overcome as its first four opponents.

My records show that Dexter has dominated Malden since 2002, winning all six games over that stretch, but then again, the Bearcats hadn't lost to Sikeston since 2001 before falling to the Bulldogs, 49-27, in week three.

Malden, looking at a golden opportunity, will be sky high for the game. Will Dexter?

Notes: Over the past six games with Malden, Dexter has two shutouts, and three times limited the Green Wave to just six points. The only time the Bearcats allowed more was in 2005 when they posted a 34-12 win over Malden.