Cody Chapman is running, and with each step, the Bangor fullback puts more space between himself and the nearest Messalonskee defender. Three or four Eagles chase Chapman down the right sideline, but it’s for show. None of them are going to catch him.

Chapman gets to the 25-yard line, the 20, and from the bottom of the screen, you see one Messalonskee player, No. 7, sprinting, closing in. But Chapman is at the 15, now the 10, and you know there’s not enough field left for No. 7 to catch Chapman, who is looking straight ahead at the end zone.

This No. 7, Sam Dexter, continues to close in, and at the 1-yard line, three feet before all his effort will go down as futile hustle, Dexter catches Chapman. Dexter’s left arm wraps around the Bangor runner, but his right goes for the ball. Dexter, who at the start of this play was on the left hashmarks, on the opposite side of the field, punches the football out of Chapman’s hands.

“I knew it would be inside the 5-yard line if I caught him, so the ball would go flying out of the end zone,” Dexter says. “It kind of played like that.”

It plays exactly like that. What seconds ago looked like a sure Bangor touchdown is Messalonskee ball at the 20.

It’s another in the long line of Dexter plays that has people at Messalonskee’s Veterans Field reaching for the smart phone, to share what they just saw with the world.

* * *

“(Dexter)’s the best player in the league — I said it before we played them. He is the best athlete in the league. He beats people so many ways,” Bangor coach Mark Hackett said following his team’s 39-20 loss at Messalonskee in Week 8 of the regular season.

No player in the Pine Tree Conference Class A, and arguably the state, did more for his team in all three phases of the game than Sam Dexter. That is why Dexter is the Morning Sentinel Football Player of the Year.

The PTC A Player of the Year, Dexter was a first team all-conference selection at wide receiver, corner back, and kick returner. In the regular season, Dexter accounted for 1,649 all-purpose yards, an average of 183.2 yards per game, and 19 touchdowns.

In Messalonskee’s playoff game at Lawrence, Dexter added an 80 kick return for a touchdown and a 51-yard reception for a score.

“His football I.Q. is extremely high for a high school kid,” Messalonskee coach Wes Littlefield said.

Football has always been a part of Dexter’s life. His father, Tom Dexter, is the defensive coordinator at Colby College. Sam grew up watching the Mules play and practice. Players like Danny Noyes, Tom Daley and Nick Tucker, some of the best receivers and defensive backs at Colby over the last decade, were the players Dexter admired and emulated. At home, Dexter could talk football with his father anytime.

“Not every high school football player, any football player, gets to come home to a college coach and ask questions about formations and coverages, alignment, whatever. He’s helped me develop a lot over the years,” Dexter said.

A three-year starter in Messalonskee’s secondary, Dexter took on a bigger role in the Eagles’ offense this season. The results: 63 carries for 682 yards (10.8 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns, and 23 catches for 437 yards (19 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.

“I knew I’d have to step up rushing, receiving. Coach (Littlefield) often mentioned it in the summer time. I kind of knew what my role was going into the year,” Dexter said.

In a 50-6 win over Oxford Hills, Dexter scored on each of his first three carries, runs of 5, 59 and 60 yards. Dexter’s strength as a ball carrier went beyond physical tools. Dexter was excellent at knowing the situation. If he needed five yards for a first down, he’d be able to string out a run around the end and get seven.

“Running backs just run sometimes. They don’t understand down and distance,” Littlefield said.

As good as we was on offense, Dexter excelled on defense. Week after week, Dexter covered the top receivers in the conference, and routinely shut them down. Bangor’s Nick Sherwood went without a catch against Messalonskee. Chandler Shostak of Cony led the league with 41 catches for 602 yards. Against the Eagles in Week 1, he had one reception for 10 yards.

Dexter had six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

“Every week it was exciting. Being locked up with the top receiver, it was just a new challenge for me every week. I’d be able to study film, kind of research what weakness and good things a receiver does,” Dexter said.

Littlefield calls Dexter a ball hawk.

“I work hard at it, I believe. I study film. Defensively, I probably feel the most comfortable, being aware. Coach tells me a lot to let the other guys know what I’m thinking, and I think that helps us all out.”

Added Littlefield: “Watching him setting up wide receivers and quarterbacks, I don’t think I’ll ever see that again as a high school coach.”

What Dexter did to Edward Little in 35 seconds of game time might never be seen again.

“At halftime, he said to me ‘When they run that hitch, I’m going to set it up. I’m going to jump it and take it back for six. I’ve been setting it up the whole game.’ ” Littlefield said. “He would say stuff like that, and you’d believe him. He just baited the kid.”

* * *

On the final play of the first half against Edward Little, Dexter intercepts a deep pass down the middle and returns it 59 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 14-0 lead.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, Dexter picks up the kick on one hop and takes off 77 yards for a touchdown. When the Red Eddies run the first play of their ensuing drive, Dexter sees what he’s been waiting for all game, and reacts. Quarterback Sean Ford drops back, and thinks he has receiver Quin Leary open for a quick hitch on the left side.

At the snap, Dexter is 10 yards off Leary. When the Red Eddies receiver turns to make his hitch, Dexter breaks, sprinting forward. Before either Ford or Leary knows what is happening, Dexter reaches to his right and catches the ball.

“I knew EL likes to run hitches. I had a sense they would try to establish the passing game with short gains. I took a chance a little bit, but it was a good break,” Dexter says.

With seconds left in the second quarter, Messalonskee held a slim 7-0 lead. Three plays, none offensive, and 35 seconds later, Dexter is about to turn that into a 28-0 lead.

There is nothing but 61 yards of green grass between Dexter and the end zone, because Edward Little does not have a Sam Dexter to chase him down.

* * *

A captain, Dexter’s leadership style is to have fun. If it’s apparent he’s having a blast playing football, then Dexter figures his teammates will feed off that positive emotion.

“That loose energy brings a team together. I feel like what I present to the guys affects the whole team. Get guys not thinking too hard,” Dexter said. “That’s what I try to do each game, not think too much. Just having fun. Every game, my single objective is to have fun. My dad and mom taught me that.”

“Sammy’s a very loose kid in practice,” Littlefield said. “What I mean by that is, he’s very focused on what he has to do, but he wants to have fun while he’s doing it.”

Returning punts and kicks is fun, Dexter said, because he feels he has an edge, particularly if he plays the ball on a hop, rather than in the air.

“When that ball’s on the ground, I feel like guys aren’t running as hard, really. They see it bouncing, flipping, those are the ones I take full stride, kind of catch everyone off guard,” Dexter said.

That’s how Dexter handled the kickoff he returned for a touchdown against Edward Little.

“Watch his acceleration off the bounce,” Littlefield said, watching the play on tape. “He’s not messing around.”

While Dexter could play football in college, it’s not in his plans. Dexter recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Massachusetts.

“They contacted me after a summer showcase. I’ve been out there a few times, took an official visit. I just really liked the town. I liked the guys on the team, loved the school. I think it’s a good fit for me,” Dexter said. “I’m not really thinking two sports right now. It would be tough. I kind of knew this is my last year strapping on the pads, and tried to make the most of it.”

If Dexter changes his mind, however, Littlefield sees a bright future in football.

“He could go to college and play Division III right now and start at corner, or as a receiver in the slot,” Littlefield said.

Throughout the conference, opposing quarterbacks, receivers and coaches would agree.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

 

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