Heckemeyer, Sikeston storm back to beat Dexter

Sikeston quarterback Joseph Heckemeyer gets the play call from assistant coach Chad King Friday night at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter. Heckemeyer rushed for five touchdowns in the second half against the Bearcats. (Tom Davis/Semoball)

DEXTER - The Sikeston at Dexter football game on Friday at Charles Bland Stadium in Dexter should be Exhibit A as to why no one should ever gamble on sports.

As the Bulldogs lumbered into the locker room at halftime, having given up 18 unanswered points and trailing the host Bearcats 25-7, nobody at the stadium envisioned what would transpire over the next 24 minutes of football.

Nobody, with the exception of the Sikeston players and coaches.

The Bulldogs (1-1) got five rushing touchdowns from senior quarterback Joseph Heckemeyer in the second half and stormed back for a 45-32 win.

“I told (the team) that we were going to stay with our game plan,” Sikeston coach Treston Pulley said following the win. “Our game plan was to run the football and we ran the football.”

Heckemeyer gave early indications of what was to come, as he sprinted down the Dexter sideline for a long gain to the Bearcat 8-yard line.

He scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard keeper to pull his team to within 25-13.

He added a 2-yard score for a 25-21 margin before Dexter sophomore slot Lee-Michael McDonald took a run 54 yards to give Dexter a 32-21 lead.

At that point, Sikeston dominated in all three phases.

The Bulldogs recovered a muffed punt return and turned that into points.

Junior safety Kaden Craig picked off two Bearcat passes, while senior Conner Wallace added another.

And Heckemeyer was sprinting around the end of his bull-rushing offensive line with abandon.

“I’m surrounded by great coaches,” Pulley said. “I’m surrounded by great guys, who provided a great game plan.”

Dexter (0-2) will travel to New Madrid County Central on Friday at 7 p.m., while Sikeston visits Kennett at the same time.