Dexter football squad seeks steady improvement
By Ernie Clark
BDN Staff
DEXTER — The Dexter Tigers have taken a methodical approach to their preseason football camp under new head coaches Brian Salsbury and Andrew Shorey.
First came acclimation to a new playbook the coaches developed, Salsbury focusing on the offense and offensive and defensive backfields while Shorey keyed in in on the defense and play along the line at the scrimmage.
Next was adding more physicality and consistency to the process in preparation for the start of the regular season at Houlton on Friday night.
That effort was not without challenges — a relatively inexperienced squad, injuries and unpredictable weather that during the first week and a half of double sessions occasionally derailed practice sessions with sometimes sudden claps of thunder.
But the Tigers hope to parlay their preseason efforts and a consistent work ethic into a quick start to the season that could land them in contention for a third LTC Eastern Maine Class D playoff berth in the last four years.
“It’s possible,” said Shorey, “but it depends on how quickly things come together.”
Six teams will qualify for postseason play in the LTC this fall, up from four teams in 2014. The league has expanded from 11 to 12 teams this year with the additions of Camden Hills of Rockport, down from Class C, and Medomak Valley of Waldoboro, a first-year varsity program, while John Bapst of Bangor has moved up to Class C by enrollment.
Camden Hills, Medomak Valley and Ellsworth-Sumner, all developing programs larger than the Class D enrollment cutoff, won’t be eligible for postseason play this year, leaving nine schools to battle for playoff spots.
Dexter, 3-5 last fall, most recently advanced to postseason play in 2012 and 2013 under former coach Kevin Armstrong, who resigned after guiding the program to a 12-12 record over his three seasons.
The Tigers will rely heavily on their seven seniors to provide leadership for a 28-player roster.
Senior captains David McKenney, an offensive guard and linebacker, and Daniel Wallace, an offensive center and defensive end, will anchor play near the line of scrimmage.
The team’s other captains, senior fullback-linebacker Bryce Salsbury and junior quarterback-free safety Brayden Miller, will be among the catalysts in the backfield, along with junior halfback-cornerback Zach White.
“We’ve got speed, but not much size,” said coach Salsbury.
With several newcomers to the sport on the squad along with 11 sophomores and freshmen, depth is an issue as Dexter will require two-way play — if not three-way play counting special teams — from several of its more veteran participants.
We’re hoping our guys can play a lot of positions,” said Salsbury. “One huge thing for us is we’re going to have several guys going both ways, and one major injury can really hurt our season.”
Salsbury and Shorey have taken steps to revise the team’s offense and defense in an effort to help the less experienced players on the roster become more comfortable with the playbook as soon as possible.
“We’re going old school, wing-T (offense) and 5-3 (defense),” said Salsbury. “We want to simplify things. We have some variations off that but that’s our base. Everything runs off that.”
The Tigers’ opening-night game at Houlton and home opener against Mount View of Thorndike on Saturday, Sept. 12, loom as important not only for advancing any playoff hopes but for establishing a positive tone for the season.
“Hopefully we can hit the ground running,” said Salsbury.
“We’re not exactly sure where we’re going to finish this year,” he added. “Our main goal is just to get better and better every week, take each week as it comes, try to plan for that week and improve, and try to build the numbers up again.”
THE SCHEDULE: 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Houlton; 1 p.m. Sept. 12 vs. Mount View; 1 p.m. Sept. 19 vs. Orono; 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Bucksport; 1 p.m. Oct. 3 vs. Stearns; 1 p.m. Oct. 10 vs. Mattanawcook Academy; 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at MCI; 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Ellsworth-Sumner