By Matthew Bartow / WLD
The loss to Chelsea didn’t take long to get over as Dexter bounced back in week two with a dominating 41-0 win over host Ypsilanti Community High School in an SEC White Division clash to even their record on the season to 1-1 (1-1 SEC White).
Dexter head coach Phil Jacobs was proud of his team’s effort after they suffered what he called a ‘tough loss’ to division rival Chelsea in last week’s season opener.
“We came out ready to play football,” Jacobs said. “We weren’t sure after last week’s tough loss. Our kids put it behind them, and they came out and played extremely hard. We didn’t beat ourselves tonight like we did last game.”
Dexter’s offense rolled for most of the game and the defense pitched a shutout.
Jacobs said that Dexter’s defense won them the football game.
“Defensively, you could pick any guy, our front seven controlled the line of scrimmage and our secondary did their job when they (Ypsilanti) did air it out,” Jacobs said. “Our defense won the football game (Friday).”
Dexter’s offense took control of the game early, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions.
After forcing a punt on Ypsilanti’s first drive, the Drednaughts struck on a 12-play, 78-yard drive. Following two straight incompletions, the drive looked to be in trouble, but Dexter quarterback Colin Parachek scrambled out of the pocket on third down and found receiver Antwan Ficklen for a 20-yard gain to keep the drive alive.
After a 15-yard passing play from Parachek to receiver Lucas Koone set Dexter up in the red zone, senior Jordan Watson (RB/LB) scored on a 5-yard run up the middle. Brady Keough made the extra point. The Dreadnaughts led 7-0 with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Dexter’s defense forced a three-and-out on Ypsilanti’s next possession, and a kick-catch interference penalty against Ypsilanti set Dexter up in Grizzlies’ territory.
Dexter’s passing game continued its assault on Ypsilanti’s defense. Completions to Ficklen and freshman receiver Brennan Parachek, the brother of quarterback Colin Parachek, set the Dreadnaughts up at the Grizzlies’ 28-yard line. Parachek then found Ficklen once again, who spun away from a defender to score a highlight-reel 28-yard touchdown.
Keough’s extra point was good, and Dexter increased its lead to 14-0 with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Ypsilanti’s next drive got off to a promising start, but stalled as defensive lineman Mark Young forced Ypsilanti’s quarterback to throw the ball away on third down.
Dexter began its next drive on its own 44-yard line. A long run by Watson and a pass play from Colin to Brennan Parachek left the Grizzlies’ defense on its heels, and the Dreadnaughts took advantage as Colin Parachek found receiver Bobby Pnacek wide-open for an 11-yard touchdown, capping an 8-play, 56-yard drive. The extra point was no good. Dexter led 20-0 with 8:11 remaining in the first half.
The Grizzlies were unable to move the ball on their next drive, and Dexter got the ball back.
After a roughing-the-passer penalty kept Dexter’s drive alive, the Dreadnaughts took advantage. Three completions from Colin to Brennan Parachek and another Ypsilanti penalty set Dexter up, and Colin Parachek hit receiver Rhett Jacobs with a perfect pass in the back of the end zone for a 17-yard score to cap off another long scoring drive. The extra point was no good. Dexter led 26-0 with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter.
Things went from bad to worse for the Grizzlies in a matter of two plays. On second and long from its own 5-yard line, Ypsilanti’s quarterback was flushed out of the pocket in his end zone by Watson, and he threw the ball away out-of-bounds. As no receiver was in the area, the Grizzlies were flagged for intentional grounding, and because the play occurred in the end zone, Dexter was given a safety, making the score 28-0 with 3:05 remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Dreadnaughts executed a trick play as Watson fielded the kickoff, and exchanged the ball behind his back with Ficklen, who ran 76 yards untouched for a touchdown only 15 seconds after the safety. The extra point was blocked, and Dexter’s lead was 34-0.
Dexter nearly scored on the final play of the first half, but Ypsilanti safety Fred Willis broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired.
Dexter fumbled the kickoff to begin the second half, and Ypsilanti recovered in Dreadnaught territory. The Dexter defense responded, forcing the Grizzles backwards with two negative rushing plays and a sack from defensive back Daniel Troncalli to keep the shutout alive. The Grizzles then fumbled the snap on the punt, and Dexter took over at its own 46-yard line.
From there, the Dreadnaught offense continued to dominate, driving the ball into the Ypsilanti red zone. On third down, Parachek hit Ficklen with a screen pass, and Ficklen shook off a defender, and ran down the sideline for a 17-yard touchdown, his third of the game and second receiving touchdown. Blake Sislo made the extra point to extend Dexter’s lead to 41-0 with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Dexter’s 41-point lead forced a running clock.
Dexter will host Dearborn Edsel Ford (0-2) in next week’s game. It will be the first time the two teams have met on the gridiron. The game will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept.13 at Al Ritt Stadium.
Box Score
1st Quarter
4:58 – Dexter – Jordan Watson 5 yard TD run (Brady Keough kick) – Dexter 7, Ypsilanti 0
1:38 – Dexter – Antwan Ficklen 28 yard TD pass from Colin Parachek (Keough kick) – Dexter 14, Ypsilanti 0
2nd Quarter
8:11 – Dexter – Bobby Pnacek 11 yard TD pass from Colin Parachek (PAT fails) – Dexter 20, Ypsilanti 0
4:18 – Dexter – Rhett Jacobs 17 yard TD pass from Colin Parachek (PAT fails) – Dexter 26, Ypsilanti 0
3:05 – Dexter – Safety – Dexter 28, Ypsilanti 0
2:50 – Dexter – Ficklen 76 yard kickoff return TD (PAT fails) – Dexter 34, Ypsilanti 0
3rd Quarter
8:02 – Dexter – Ficklen 17 yard TD pass from Colin Parachek (Blake Sislo kick) – Dexter 41, Ypsilanti 0
4th Quarter
No Scoring
Other SEC White Division Scores
Jackson 46, Adrian 14
Chelsea 28, Pinckney 7
Ypsilanti Lincoln 35, Tecumseh 12
SEC White Division Standings
Ypsilanti Lincoln (2-0, 2-0 SEC White)
Jackson (2-0, 2-0 SEC White)
Chelsea (2-0, 2-0 SEC White)
Dexter (1-1, 1-1 SEC White)
Pinckney (1-1, 1-1 SEC White)
Ypsilanti (0-2, 0-2 SEC White)
Tecumseh (0-2, 0-2 SEC White)
Adrian (0-2, 0-2 SEC White)
