DEXTER- The Dexter Tigers got three total touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Connor, and three more from running back Gage Beaudry on Saturday afternoon in rolling past the Stearns Minutemen 54-14 in a battle of unbeaten teams in small school 8-man football at Dexter Regional High School.
After Stearns turned the ball over on downs with the first possession of the game, Dexter wasted no time in jumping in front as Connor found a streaking Kayden Kimball for a 54 yard touchdown on the first play and an 8-0 lead. Beaudry scored his first of the day early in the second quarter on an 11 yard run, as Connor ran it in to make it 2-2 on two-point conversions and a 16-0 Tigers advantage. The Minutemen (5-1) cracked the scoring column for the first time on a three yard run by Caden Raymond just 1:08 later, and with their successful conversion it was 16-8. The Tigers pushed out the lead with two short touchdown runs before the half, four yards from Beaudry and one yard from Kimball. The hosts continued to pour it on in the second half, getting a two yard TD run by Connor and a 45 yard TD run from Beaudry in the third quarter. Defensive tackle Caden Brown even got into the act with a two yard scoring run in the fourth, as the defending state champions go to 6-0. Lucas Pelkey scored on a 41 yard run for Stearns that finished the scoring.
Connor ended up 3-7 passing for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding in 140 yards rushing on 16 attempts with two touchdowns. Beaudry had 19 rushes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Kayden Kimball had a blocked punt in the first half, and also had the 54 yard TD reception from Connor on the Tigers first offensive play of the game. Stearns quarterback Caleb Shearer went 7-22 passing for 108 yards with four rushes for 30 yards in the loss. Sam Jacobs had four receptions for 96 yards, and Pelkey the freshman ended up with 65 yards on three carries and a touchdown all late in the contest. The two teams both play their final regular season game next week as the Minutemen are at home Friday night to host St. John Valley, and the Tigers will stay at home and host Bucksport on Saturday afternoon.
