It is what it is: Dexter vs. New Madrid

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter head football coach Aaron Pixley address the defense during Wednesday's practice.

There's no pregame hype required for Friday night's New Madrid County Central-Dexter football game.

When the ball is put in play at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter at 7 p. m., the MSHSAA Class 3, District 1 playoffs will have officially begun.

"It is what it is," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said Wednesday. "It's what it has been for the past several years with them, they are the team to beat. They are always the team to beat. We used to be that team at one time and that's what we're trying to get back to here.

Offensive coordinator Brian Becker diagrams a play as the scout team tries to duplicate a New Madrid offensive set.

"They (New Madrid) are very good, very talented and they present great obstacles for us on both sides of the ball. They have a couple of D-1 recruits and they are D-1 recruits for a reason. They are very good. We've got to tackle and we've got to block and if we can do those two things, then we have a chance."

The trigger man for the Eagles is D'Darius Stevenson, who will play several different positions during a game, including quarterback. Stevenson has already gone over 1,000 yards rushing this season (232 carries for 1,144 yards), and he is but one of many skilled players for coach Arlen Pixley's Eagles squad.

"That is if he lines up at quarterback," Aaron Pixley said when asked about trying to contain Stevenson. " They've lined up with a different quarterback lately, but he's (Stevenson) definitely going to line up behind center some time during the game. Whenever he's behind center, he's one of the best backs around. When they snap the ball to him, well he can do a lot of things. He's just dangerous, very, very fast, a great athlete, strong and great balance. Whenever he's not at quarterback, he's playing the tailback position and he might be deadlier there. He's just a great player.

Dexter defensive coach Rick Schwab explains defensive assignments to players during Wednesday's practice,

"He's one of many very good players for New Madrid," Pixley continued. "Rodney Anderson, who's been around forever, was a 1000 yard rusher last year. Don't think we've forget about him. And Tony Ealy? Everybody has been talking about him. He's a big time Division 1 recruit, four star guy, so they are loaded at the skill positions for sure so we'll have to play well.

Ealy presents a huge challenge to every team the Eagles face on both sides of the ball.

"They play him every where," Pixley noted. "You never know where he is going to be. They move him around to get mismatches, but really, it doesn't matter where he goes, he is favored in that matchup I guarantee you. He's big and fast."

New Madrid comes into the game with a 4-3 record and a unprecedented two-game losing streak after falling to undefeated Sikeston (34-12) and losing at home last week to Park Hills Central (38-28) on a very muddy field.

"Back-to-back losses to very good teams," Pixley pointed out. "They are going to be fired up. They're coming in here against a team with a lesser record than what they've been playing, so they are going to be very confident and rightfully so. That's what we've got to be. We've got to come out and be ready to play and we've got to come out and play out four quarters against these guys. You can't play two against these guys or they will be you by three or four touchdowns."

The field at New Madrid is so made that school officials and MSHSAA officials decided to move the game to Dexter, where the Bearcats will be wearing their home black jerseys. Some observers felt the nearly unplayable field conditions at New Madrid last week proved to be the Eagle's undoing by slowing the game down.

"Anytime you can stay home that's a good thing," Pixley said. "From what I understand their field is very muddy and it's not going to give anyone a chance to do anything, so I'm glad it has been moved here. And I believe my brother (New Madrid coach Arlen Pixley) is glad about it too."

Dexter enters the game riding a 3-game win streak after opening the season, 0-4.

We're a better football than we were when we started," Pixley said. "We're a little banged up, several bad ankles after the last game, and it doesn't help practicing out here in the mud. We've just got to play well as a team, stay together, keep it together and come out and do the best we can and play as hard as we can and be physical."