Tigers hope to bounce back
in LTC Class D North football quarterfinal
By Ernie Clark
Staff Writer
DEXTER — The Dexter Tigers will return to postseason football after a one-year hiatus Friday night when they visit Orono for an LTC Class D North quarterfinal.
Dexter (3-5) earned the No. 5 seed in the six-school playoff field while Orono (4-4) is the No. 4 seed.
The Tigers, coached by Brian Salsbury and Andrew Shorey, have dropped their last three games, including a 30-16 loss at Ellsworth-Sumner last Friday night.
“We’re excited that we have a playoff game, but the key this week is picking ourselves back up. We kind of let ourselves down this past weekend because we thought that was a game we were going to win,” said Salsbury. “But it didn’t go our way, we had six or seven turnovers and you can’t win a game like that.
“Basically for us it’s going back to playing assignment football and getting them up for this game.”
The Tigers did acquit themselves well in a 41-20 loss at undefeated powerhouse Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield in Week 7 of the regular season, two weeks after establishing their postseason credentials with back-to-back victories over Orono and Bucksport.
Dexter’s 48-22 win over Orono in Week 3 featured an early defensive stop that enabled the Tigers to take control of the game.
Orono, which enters postseason play coming off back-to-back losses to Bucksport and Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, should be in better shape physically for the rematch. Starting quarterback Jackson Coutts and leading rushers Keenan Collett and Matt Fowler are all expected to be in the Red Riots’ lineup after missing the first game against the Tigers.
Dexter has been led offensively this fall by running backs Bryce Salsbury, Tyler Beem and Brandon Allen, who have combined for nearly 1,000 rushing yards. That ground game has been complemented by the 459 passing yards and nine touchdown strikes thrown by quarterback Brayden Miller, with Zach White his favorite target.
Miller threw four touchdown passes during the earlier meeting with Orono, all in the first half.
Bryce Salsbury also leads the Dexter defense with 54 solo tackles, 29 assists, two quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries in seven games.
“Overall as far as the way we’ve played, there’s been a quarter here and there but all in all we’ve done fairly well,” said coach Salsbury.
No. 6 Houlton (4-4) will play at No. 3 Mount View of Thorndike (6-2) in the other LTC Class D North quarterfinal on Saturday while No. 1 and defending champion MCI (8-0) and No. 2 Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln (6-2) earned first-round byes.