Chelsea Topples Dexter in Football Rivalry Match on Friday

During a week devoted to storied rivalries, with the Detroit Lions lining up against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football and Michigan State hosting the University of Michigan in college football, it was fitting that county rivals Dexter and Chelsea would meet on the gridiron Friday night. The visiting Division 3 No. 8-ranked Bulldogs (7-1) defeated the Dreadnaughts (3-5) 31-15 at Al Ritt Field.

“We made a lot of small mistakes, both coaches and players,” Dexter coach Brian Baird said. “The game was closer than the final score. The kids played their hearts out.”

Chelsea scored early in the first quarter as Dominic Davis intercepted a pass on Dexter’s opening drive of the game. Off the turnover, Jake Steinhauer hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Scheese giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 11:35 left in the first quarter.

With 7:40 remaining in the first quarter, Scheese connected with Cody Ellyson for a 46-yard touchdown pass upping Chelsea’s advantage to 14-0.

The Dreadnaughts answered the Bulldogs’ two scores with a touchdown of their own as quarterback Mike Mioduszewski hit pay dirt on a 5-yard run. With the point after touchdown kick by Dvon Newsham, Dexter trimmed Chelsea’s lead to 14-7 with 10:58 left in the second quarter.

Late in the second quarter, Berkley Edwards scored on a 5-yard run for the Bulldogs increasing their lead to 21-7 with 2:46 remaining in the first half.

The Dreadnaughts drove down to Chelsea’s 1-yard line, but ran out of time as the second quarter came to a close. Chelsea continued leading 21-7 as both teams entered the locker room at the break.

After the Bulldogs came out and hit a 32-yard field goal, taking a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter, Dexter clamped down defensively shutting out Chelsea the rest of the frame. With 34 seconds left in the third quarter, Dreadnaught defensive lineman Charlie Sleder intercepted a Bulldog pass and returned the ball down to the Chelsea 15-yard line. Dexter, however, fumbled the ball on its third play of the ensuing drive. The fumble was the Dreadnaughts’ fourth turnover of the quarter.

Eight plays later, Edwards scored from two yards out, increasing the Bulldogs’ lead to 31-7 with 8:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.

With 6:18 left in the game, Mioduszewski passed three yards to Jay Lewis for a Dexter touchdown. The 2-point conversion pass from Mioduszewski to Lewis was successful for the night’s final 31-15 margin.

Mioduszewski finished 12-of-26 passing for 171 yards with one interception and one touchdown. He also rushed for 156 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown.

Scheese ended up 16-of-24 passing for 214 yards with one interception and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 50 yards on 11 tries.

Edwards had 40 yards rushing on 21 attempts with two touchdowns.

Dexter next travels to Pinckney for the regular season finale, while Chelsea visits Haslett. Both games are at 7 p.m. Oct. 21.