Pirates run past Bearcats

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Morgan Hedrick hauls in a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter during the Bearcats' 40-17 loss to Gosnell, Ark., Friday on the road. [Click to enlarge]

Daily Statesman Sports Editor

GOSNELL, Ark., -- Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said he wasn't expecting any surprises from Gosnell as he led his team south across the state line into Arkansas for Friday night's game.

Unfortunately for the Bearcats, the Pirates didn't disappoint.

The Gosnell Pirates did what they do best...run the football. And when the dust had cleared, it was the Pirates that were celebrating a 40-17 win over the Bearcats.

Gosnell churned out 446 yards of total offense, including 380 on the ground. Zach Perrin accounted for 150 of those yards on 22 carries. Three other Pirate ball carriers had over 50.

And while the offense was clicking, the Pirates defense was putting on an equally impressive show, holding the Bearcats to just 10 first down and 211 yards of total offense. A big chuck of the 'Cats offense came late in the game against the Pirates' second-team.

"They didn't surprise me one bit," Pixley said after the game. "We got whipped on both sides of the football. We've got to work on everybody doing their job at the same time. We can't half of them doing it and the other half not.

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter quartertback Ben Mills is forced to scramble during the Bearcats' 40-17 road loss to the Gosnell Pirates Friday night. [Click to enlarge]

"We've got to get in sync and we've got to work together," he continued. "I think we stayed together. I didn't see any team breakdown my any means. But at the same time, they are a good football team. We knew they were good."

Dexter only trailed 14-3 at the half and was very much in the game.

Dexter scored the first points of the game on a 33-yard field goal by Dylan Acevado. The attempt was set up after Wesley McCollough picked off a Isiah Love pass and returned it 16 yards to the Pirates 32 and Ben Mills connected with Morgan Hedrick for a 16-yard pass.

Gosnell answered with two first-half touchdown, the second coming after Mills was intercepted by Dewight Thomas and returned to the Dexter 29 yards line. Four plays later, B. J. Allen took it in from six yards out.

Gosnell dominated the second half scoring 26 unanswered points for a 40-3 advantage.

Dexter added two fourth quarter scores, one a 33-yard strike from Mills to Hedrick, and the other a Mills to Gary Summers pass covering 30 yards.