Pinckney Plows Through Dreadnaughts' Defense in Varsity Football Season Finale

It was a tale of two halves during Friday's football game between nonleague foes Pinckney and Dexter. The Pirates (3-6) ended the first half leading 10-0, before exploding for 27 points in the final two quarters to defeat the Dreadnaughts (3-6) in the regular season finale for both squads.

“Their power just wore us down,” said Dexter coach Brian Baird. “Our defense played well, but it’s the little things that we need to do better. It’s disappointing. As a staff, I think we let the seniors down. I wanted more for them tonight.”

Pinckney scored on its second possession of the contest as senior Brianna Amat kicked a 36-yard field goal giving the Pirates an early 3-0 lead with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter.

Defense also dominated the first half, as Pinckney forced four Dexter punts, while the Dreadnaughts’ stop corps made the Pirates punt three times.

After a 52-yard punt by Dexter senior Jordan Sharp, Pinckney began its drive at its own 16-yard line with 8:29 left in the second quarter. Sixteen plays and 84 yards later, senior Drew Stephens scored on a 3-yard run for the Pirates. Amat kicked the extra point, increasing Pinckney’s lead to 10-0 with 1:47 remaining in the second quarter. Pinckney’s scoring drive took 6:42 off the clock.

The Dreadnaughts answered on their next possession as senior quarterback Mike Mioduszewski connected with senior receiver Jay Lewis for a 29-yard pass play on the drive’s first play. The pass-catch combination moved the ball down to the Pirates’ 39-yard line with 1:34 remaining in the first half. On the following play, however, Pirate junior defensive tackle Alex Brennan pounced on a fumble giving Pinckney the ball at its own 41-yard line.

The Pirates moved the ball down the field quickly, setting up a 42-yard field goal attempt by Amat which fell inches short to end the first half.

To begin the third quarter, Pinckney recovered an onside kick beginning its drive just inside the 50-yard line in Dexter territory. A few plays later, senior back Lucas Rose scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. Amat’s point after touchdown kick split the uprights, giving the Pirates a 17-0 advantage with 10:44 left in the third quarter.

“We knew they were going to onside kick the ball,” Baird said. “They (Pinckney) executed it well.”

After a Dreadnaught fumble turned the ball over to Pinckney, senior quarterback Dominic Bona lofted a perfect pass to sophomore receiver Joe Groen for a 63-yard touchdown bomb. Amat booted the point after touchdown, increasing the Pirates’ lead to 24-0 with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.

On its following possession, Dexter hit pay dirt as Mioduszewski hit junior back Brandon Bellottie for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point pass play was successful, drawing the Dreadnaughts closer at 24-8 with 4:48 left in the third frame.

After senior Mike Haney recovered a fumble for Pinckney near the end of the third quarter, Stephens scored his second touchdown of the night on a 3-yard run. Amat’s point after touchdown was good, giving the Pirates a 31-8 lead with 11:57 left in the game.

With 9:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, Mioduszewski found senior receiver Jacob Van Hoof for a 20-yard touchdown pass cutting Pinckney’s advantage to 31-14.

Bona put the game away scoring on a 53-yard run with 7:01 remaining on the fourth quarter clock for the night’s final 37-14 margin.

Despite the loss, Baird, completing his first season on the sideline for Dexter, remained upbeat as he looked toward the future regarding Dreadnaught football.

“We’re going to turn the page,” he said. “This season is over. We’ll say goodbye to our seniors and then we’ll move forward.”