Dreadnaughts Record Tough Loss Against Ypsilanti on Friday

Dexter football lost a heartbreaking 18-13 Southeastern Conference White Division game against rival Ypsilanti Lincoln Friday night.

The host Railsplitters (4-1) sent the jam-packed homecoming crowd home happy as senior halfback George Miller scored on a 1-yard run up the middle with 21 seconds left on the clock for the game-winning touchdown.

“The guys gave a great effort,” said Dexter coach Brian Baird. “I’m always proud of these guys. But we’re at a low point right now in our season. We’ll see how we respond next week.”

While Baird and the Dreadnaughts (1-4) left the field dejected, Lincoln coach Chris Westfall was understandably beside himself in the afterglow of the Splitters’ fourth win of the season. Last year, Lincoln was winless at 0-9.

“This was such a fantastic football atmosphere,” he said. “It was homecoming night. We had a big crowd and this is just a great night. We have a fantastic community.”

To begin the game, the Splitters scored on a 43-yard touchdown run by senior back Johntae Pittman. The extra point kick was unsuccessful giving Lincoln a 6-0 lead with 5:41 remaining in the first quarter.

With 9:30 left in the second quarter, Dexter’s defense came up huge as senior tackle Chase Galloway pounced on a fumble giving the Dreadnaughts the ball at their own 40-yard line. On its first play following the Splitter turnover, Lincoln senior defensive end Dejuan Hampton intercepted a pass squelching a potential Dexter scoring opportunity.

The Dreadnaughts’ defense again shut down the high-powered Splitter offense, forcing two straight punts. With 1:30 remaining in the first half, Dexter started its drive from Lincoln’s 48-yard line. Five plays later, senior quarterback Mike Mioduszewski hit senior receiver Jay Lewis for a 36-yard touchdown pass. With senior Dvon Newsham’s point after touchdown kick, the Dreadnaughts took the lead at 7-6 with 30 seconds left in the second quarter.

With momentum on its side, Dexter entered the halftime locker room on a roll. Defensively, the Dreads had kept the Splitters’ speed and potent scoring ability in check, while the offense came up big at the end of the second quarter giving Dexter the lead at the break.

The positive energy of the first half quickly dissipated as Lincoln senior Rare Williams returned the second half opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Though the Dreadnaught defense stuffed the two-point conversion run, the Splitters regained the lead at 12-7 with 11:47 remaining in the third quarter.

With the Lincoln homecoming crowd at a fever pitch, Dexter began its first drive of the second half at its own 30-yard line. Showing poise and discipline despite the loud and boisterous Splitter crowd, the Dreadnaughts executed a precise 12-play drive that reached the Lincoln 5-yard line. On fourth and goal from the 5-yard line, Dexter’s run up the middle was stopped by a host of Splitter defenders, turning the ball over on downs and giving Lincoln back the momentum it had lost during the Dreadnaughts’ surgeon-like movement down the field.

“I blew it on that drive,” Baird said. “I’ll admit it. I need to make better play calls. First and goal at the 5-yard line, we have to score. You end up second-guessing every play and every call.”

As they did all game long, the Dreadnaughts refused to quit. Dexter’s defense continued to shut down Lincoln’s offense. Besides Williams’ kickoff return for a score to start the third quarter, the Splitter offense was stifled all night by Dexter defensively. With the defense playing well, the Dreadnaught offense came to life late in the fourth quarter.

With 5:09 left in the game, Dexter began its drive at its own 15-yard line. Seven plays later, Mioduszewski scored on a 48-yard goal. The Dreadnaughts were unable to score on their 2-point conversion run, taking a 13-12 lead with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Though bottled up all game, Lincoln’s offense came up big when it needed to Friday night. The Splitters started their next drive at their own 21-yard line. Lincoln spread the field, lining up five receivers wide and mixed the pass and run well to move down the field. Eleven plays later, Miller scored the game-winning goal from 1-yard out with 21 seconds left in the game.

“We didn’t play very well offensively,” Westfall said. “But we were able to move down the field quickly late in the game.”

Baird said Dexter would regroup despite the difficult loss.

“Our defense is playing well,” he said. “We have great kids. We still have four games to play. We’re still going to take it one game at a time.”

The Dreadnaughts next host SEC White Division foe Tecumseh (2-3) at 7 p.m. Sept. 30. Dexter will be celebrating homecoming against the Indians. Tecumseh is coming off a 29-28 overtime win over Ypsilanti. In week four, the Indians lost to Lincoln 26-12.