October 9, 2015

PARK HILLS -- The duel between quarterbacks Ethan Stevens and Jake Bridges came down to a takeaway. With a chance to tie the game within the last minute of the fourth quarter, Stevens led Dexter to the 14-yard line when a third down pass was read perfectly by Park Hills Central's Matt Richardson...

Chris Pobst
<i>Photo by Chris Pobst - Sports Editor</i><br>
Dexter's Ethan Stevens (7) runs through a tackle by Park Hills Central's Evan Sidebottom (18) Friday at Park Hills Central High School.
<i>Photo by Chris Pobst - Sports Editor</i><br> Dexter's Ethan Stevens (7) runs through a tackle by Park Hills Central's Evan Sidebottom (18) Friday at Park Hills Central High School.

PARK HILLS -- The duel between quarterbacks Ethan Stevens and Jake Bridges came down to a takeaway.

With a chance to tie the game within the last minute of the fourth quarter, Stevens led Dexter to the 14-yard line when a third down pass was read perfectly by Park Hills Central's Matt Richardson.

The 6-1 junior stepped in front of the pass and returned the pick 90 yards to the end zone to seal a 42-27 win for Park Hills Central Friday night at Park Hills Central High School.

"There's a lot of positives we can take away from this game," Dexter coach Justin Peden said. "We completed with a top-tier team in the area and were able to do things offensively and defensively that we wanted to do. We had stops, were able to run and throw the ball effectively. We learned that we're a good football team. We were able to execute our game plan, the ball just didn't bounce our way a few times."

Stevens and Bridges, two quarterbacks that parallel each other's skills, one-upped each other all night long.

The Dexter senior finished with 206 yards on 18 of 29 passing and chipped in another 191 yards rushing. Stevens threw and ran for two touchdowns each and also came away with a one-handed interception to halt a drive late in the second quarter.

"He's a tough player to defend," Park Hills Central coach Kory Schweiss said. "You feel like you've got to put extra guys out there to stop him from running the ball and when you do, you give him a few creases. He's a good enough thrower to make you pay and he did that tonight."

Not to be outdone, Bridges threw three touchdowns on 14 of 18 passing and 271 yards. He also ran for one score and 68 yards on the ground.

"Bridges is probably the best, overall quarterback we've seen all year," Peden said. "He made some throws that were special throws. He bought time with his feet and it really was kind of a duel between those two. It was an exciting game to be a part of watching those two go back and forth."

Dexter tied the game at 7-all early in the second quarter, but fell one score behind the Rebels from then out.

After a 29-yard run by Stevens pulled the Bearcats within one possession, Dexter tried for the onside kick and nearly snagged it, but Park Hills Central scooped up the bouncer. Just one play later, however, the Bearcats were given new life.

A bad snap that Bridges couldn't get a hand on fell to the ground and was recovered by Dexter's Tyler Stevenson.

Stevens had his chance starting at the 50-yard line with 3:58 remaining.

The senior ran for 14 yards and completed a seven-yard pass to Jason Jarrell that took the Bearcats to Park Hills Central's 14-yard line -- with help from a personal foul call -- and time winding to under a minute left. Stevens took a quick drop and fired a throw to the left that Richardson jumped on at the 10-yard line. With nothing but green turf in front of him, Richardson sprinted 90 yards for the backbreaking score.

"It was exciting," Peden said. "We were hoping to get down there and get a score. We were throwing the ball well and we were kind of trying to pick our spots to throw and it was a good drive it just didn't work out for us in the end."

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