Bearcats save best for last with game-ending heroics

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter senior Nick Hessling (No. 40) breaks through for some of his 91-yards rushing during Thursday's 26-21 win over Kennett at Charles Bland Stadium.

With just 23 second remaining in the game, the ball on their own 17-yard line and trailing 21-20, Dexter quarterback Ben Mills found Gary Summers breaking free behind a lone Kennett defender for a game-winning 83-yard scoring play and a season-ending, 26-21, victory over the Indians at Charles Bland Stadium Thursday night.

"I ran the wrong route, but I saw an opening and took it," and emotional Summers said after the improbable come-from-behind win. "The quarterback, Ben (Mills) came out here told me -- and I was supposed to run a post -- but he told me to try and get a juke on him and run right past him. I just figured if he (Mills) was going to try, I was going to give it my hardest and hopefully come through."

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Gary Summers celebrates his game-winning touchdown catch with teammate Ethan Gentry.

The scoring toss by Mills (8-of-13 for 183 yards) quickly erased the disappoint of two earlier interceptions, the first returned 90-yards for a touchdown by Kennett's Jimmy Gooden on Dexter's opening possession of the game.

"It was a rough game all the way up to that (point)," Dexter's junior quarterback said of the game-winning play. "But that last play, I told Gary, because I knew he had one-on-one coverage on the outside and he was supposed to run a post, but I told him take a step inside and if you can run a seam, and get by him, I was going to heave it and hope you come down with it. And he did it."

"He needed that," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said of his quarterbacks play late in the game. "He needed that situation and now he knows he can make plays in that situation with just 23 seconds on the clock. I felt like we blocked that play real well. Probably the best pass blocking play we had all night was the last one, and the wide receiver did a good job of getting open and he (Mills) made a great pass."

Ryan Windham (No. 81, above) makes a diving catch near the sideline during Thursday's 26-21 win over Kennett at Charles Bland Stadium.

Kennett made its own bid for a come-from-behind win when Indians quarterback Blake Parr (16-of-26, 153-yards) connected with Gooden for a 6-yard scoring strike with 10:38 remaining in the game to push the Indians out front 21-20, a missed point after attempt by the Bearcats looming large at that point.

But all of that was just to set the stage for Dexter's late heroics.

"We changed the personal a little bit on that play," Pixley commented. " Normally we have a tight end in the game. We went to four wides and put three to one side and we felt like we might have a good chance there on the lone receiver side and sure enough, we blocked it well, Ben threw probably the longest pass of his career -- I know it was 83-yards and it probably was the longest pass reception of his career -- but he threw it in the air the longest. It had a great tight spiral, good looking ball, and Gary got past the defender there and made a great catch and took it in.

"We told the kids on the sideline with 23 second left, and we were down by one point, never say die," Dexter's ninth-year head coach stated. "Anything can happen. Just keep fighting and sure enough we came out and made that play. I'm very proud of them. I'm very proud of my seniors for sticking with me. They're all good young men and we really feel like they are going to go off do really good things."

After Kennett stole the early momentum on Gooden's long interception return, Dexter took advantage of a fumble by Kennett running back Tevin Hampton when Caleb Stanley fell on the loose ball at the Indians' 31. Dexter only needed five plays before Nick Hessling bulled his way over from the four and Dylan Acevado's kick tied the game at 7-all with 2:06 remaining in the first.

Kennett scored late in the second quarter on a 4-yard run by Parr, who finished the night with 57 yards on the ground. Kennett's PAT kick by Drake Daniel was good and the Indians held on to take a 14-7 half-time lead.

"I felt like the first half we were just inches away from getting a good running game going, then Ben twisted his ankle there, and I'm thinking we've got to get it going," Pixley said. "We came out in the third quarter and really slammed it down their throat, looking great, and I'm thinking this is what we've got to do. Then we get the ball back and a few things happen, a penalty there, then it's a dog fight again. The kids just never gave up, they stayed after it and I'm v very proud of them."

Dexter's opening drive of the second half started at their own 24-yard line and it was a ground and pound attack. Hessling, who scored three touchdowns on the night and rushed for 91 yards, opened the drive with a 10-yard run. Seth McBride tacked on 15 on second down, Aaron Mace gained four and Hessling broke up the middle for 17 and a first down at the Indians' 30. McBride probed the right side for nine, and on second down, Mace turned the right corner for 16 yards to set up Hessling for a 5-yard scoring plunge that tied the game at 14-all after Acevado's PAT.

Both team's traded possessions, and Dexter's defense again held on Kennett's next offensive series. Hunter Bruce ignited the home crowd when he broke through to block the Indians' punt attempt and Caleb Stanley recovered the ball at the Indians' 12-yard line. Four running plays later, Hessling punched it in from the one for a 20-14 Dexter lead after the PAT was wide.

The missed extra point looked like it might be the difference in the game after Kennett moved ahead 21-20 later in the fourth quarter.

Kennett did get off one desperation play before the game clock expired, but Parr's throw was long and wide of the intended target as the buzzer sounded.

Coach Pixley now as a perfect 9-0 record against Kennett, but he wasn't sure how his team would respond after being elimanated from playoff contentions last week.

"You're just not sure of your kids mentality," Pixlery commented. "They're a little unsure at this point being 3-6 coming into the last game, and we've been beat the last two games. I felt like at times, starting off the game for sure, we were a little timid, but once we got going and the sweat starting coming off of us we just started playing.

"And from a defensive stand point, holding that quarterback (Parr) to 150 yards passing is a very good accomplishement," Pixley continued. " He's thrown for close to 400 yards in some games, I know the last two teams have done a real good job against him, but he's a good quarterbacks. He has a good arm and he has good receivers.

"The passing didn't hurt us as much as his scrambling around," he added. "He's a good athlete. He's slick. He's been slick on us for thre years. I tell you what, we've had a hard time getting a hold of him for three years, boy, but we came up when some big plays when ever we had to. And that last play (deep pass with time running out), was all because of our pressure on him and we did it with a three-man line and I'm very proud of their effort on that.

"Not a very pretty win, but you know what, at this point we'll take it," he said. "I'm glad the seniors got a win they are going to go off and have a good time with it, and I hope it will set a good tone for our young kids coming back."

Mills also said this one was for the seniors on the team.

"We wanted to win for the seniors tonight (Thursday)," Mills pointed out. "Rough season, but we wanted to pull it out for them. It felt good to get the win. We've got to build on it, work hard in the off season, and come back next year."

Dexrer finishes the season at 4-6, while Kennett wraps things up with a 6-4 record.