1st Place, Sports News Story
2022-23, Division 3, News Writing
By Conor Sweeny
The Squall
Dexter HS
26 years.
That’s the number of consecutive seasons Chelsea beat Dexter in football. Five different Presidents and a few major world events later, Dexter can finally say they have taken Chelsea down.
The Dreads scored on their open- ing drive en route to a 45-0 demolition of the Chelsea Bulldogs.
Heading into the game, the Dreadnaughts flaunted an undefeated record, and had practically manhandled every team they had played against up to that point. The Dreads were making history and it seemed as if nothing was going to get in the way.
The game started off with a 21- yard TD pass from senior quarterback Reeves Taylor to senior wide receiver Joey Tessmer.
“It really set the tone for the game,” Taylor said. “It showed that we’re here to play and we’re here to bring it to you guys.”
That touchdown was all the Dreadnaughts would need to win the game, but that didn’t stop them from adding to it.
Senior running back Cole Cabana ran around left end for a 10-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to put Dexter up 14-0. On Dexter’s ensuring drive, Taylor connected with Cabana on a 15-yard TD pass to give the Dreads a 21-0 lead. Senior kicker Gerzon Herter connected on a 38-yard field goal before halftime to make it 24-0 at the break.
Dexter continued the rout in the second half. Cabana had a pair of touchdown runs (a 73-yarder early in the third quarter and a 12-yarder late in the third). Taylor also connected with senior tight end Brennan Parachek on a four-yard TD pass in the quarter.
“It feels great,” Parachek said in a post-game interview when asked what it meant to get the elusive win over Chelsea. “It was a great atmosphere here. We were able to put up some points and we came out with the win. We haven’t done it in 26 years so it feels great.”
Snapping the streak wasn’t the only milestone accomplished on the field that night. Head Coach Phil Jacobs also got his 100th career win as a coach.
“It’s a great accomplishment, but… it’s just another number to be honest with ya,” Jacobs said. “What’s more important now is finishing the season strong and going as far as we can.”
The Dreads have won both the District Championship and the Regional Championship, and are hoping to continue their historic run. Ford Field may be in the near future for Dexter.
NW-21. Sports News Story
Sports news stories may include general sports news or sports events and are constructed in news style. Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the story was published or the URL to the story on an online news site.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Lead features interesting, important angle
- Uses colorful, lively style
- Avoids cliches, editorializing
- Displays knowledge of sports; uses understandable terms
- Shows research/interviewing skills; emphasizes how & why
- Effective use of facts/quotes
- Proper diction/grammar; use of the third person
- Unity/coherence