Dexter lights up the field for first Friday night football game

DEXTER — With the flick of a switch, the Dexter Regional High School football field was illuminated near dusk for the school’s first ever night game on Sept 4.

Thanks to the efforts of many across the community and $75,000 awarded by T-Mobile, the Tigers were able to open the 2026 season in primetime in Dexter against longtime rival Stearns High School of Millinocket.

Before kickoff Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Adam Gudroe told the crowd it was a special night not simply because Dexter was hosting the defending 8-man Small School champion Minutemen. The two teams met in the 2025 North final with Stearns winning 64-8.

“This is much bigger for this community, tonight marks the first Friday night football game in our school’s history,” he said.

Saying there are many people to thank, Gudroe encouraged everyone to look at the donor wall on the side of the football tower to see the project contributors.

“We wouldn’t be here without T-Mobile,” Gudroe said.

Last fall, a T-Mobile campaign gave the school $75,000 toward an upgraded athletic facility. Dexter  finished third in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest with more than 500,000 online votes being cast from around the country, receiving $50,000 along with another $25,000 for being one of 25 national finalists. The money was ceremonially awarded at a November assembly in the Ed Guiski Gymnasium.

“The $75,000 spearheaded our fundraising campaign and gave us the confidence to make this happen,” Gudroe said.

In late February, SAD 46 launched a $250,000 field lighting project. A school Facebook page post included diagrams of a synthetic athletic field and track and grandstand and concessions and storage buildings.

The lighting project will be the first phase of a larger multi-sport turf field renovation project for the school and community at the site of the current football field and surrounding dirt track, the post said. Installing permanent lights will increase safety, allow evening practices and games, create more opportunities for athletes and make it easier for families to attend.

Dexter will enter the T-Mobile contest again this year.

Gudroe thanked Frank Spizuoco and the Dexter Development Association for their work on the lights. He also gave a quick shoutout to the friends and family of Larry Haskell who collectively donated $25,000 to purchase a pole in memory of Haskell. A member of the Class of 1975, Haskell was an integral part of the football program during his high school career. He continued to be a proud supporter of Dexter athletics and watched many games from his family home up on the nearby hill.  

Everyone looked up in the sky to watch the game ball be delivered via skydiver by Paul Dyer of Vacationland Jumps in Waterville. Dyer landed near the redzone and pitched the game ball to Gudroe shortly before the lights were turned on and the Tigers burst through a banner in the endzone.

On the field, Stearns (the program is a cooperative with the roster open to students at neighboring Schenck High School of East Millinocket) jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, were up 42-0 at halftime and won the mutual season opener 42-8.

Minutemen senior Cohen Raymond had a big night as he scored his team’s first five touchdowns. 

Cohen carried the football eight times for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the opening quarter. He finished with 10 attempts for 149 yards and five touchdowns, both game-highs with these all coming in the first half.

The first Dexter points in primetime came on the game’s final play as freshman Bentley Roderick and junior Mason Clay connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Both teams got reserve players in during the second half with the running clock in place. Dexter took over at the team’s own 3-yard-line line after making a stop on 4th-and-goal from the Tiger-6 very late in the third quarter.

Dexter drove 13 plays to move the football to the Stearns-10 to set up a 4th-and-goal inside a half minute to play. Roderick spied Clay by the left pylon and Clay made the reception and got inside for the score. Freshman Conor Sullivan ran the football into the endzone for two to make the final score 42-8.

Senior quarterback Bodhi Langlais led Dexter with 54 rushing yards on 13 carries. Clay made a team-high two receptions for 24 yards and the touchdown with both catches coming from Roderick who was 2-of-2 for a contest-best 24 yards through the air.

The Tigers will be at home next at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 when the team hosts Washington Academy of East Machias. The Raiders won the team’s 2026 opener vs. Houlton High School 36-14.

FOOTBALL

Stearns 42, Dexter 8

STR 20 22 0 0 – 42

DEX 0 0 0 8 – 8

First: S – Raymond 13 yds (pass fail); S – Raymond 35 yds (Legassey from E. Michaud); S – Raymond 1 yd (pass fail)

Second: S – Raymond 8 yds (pass fail); S – Raymond 18 yds (Daisey rush); S – Carr 45 yds (Raymond rush)

Fourth: D – Clay 10 yds from Roderick (Sullivan rush)

Passing: S – E. Michaud 2-of-2 22 yds; Carr 1-of-2 22 yds; D – Roderick 2-of-2 24 yds TD; Langlais 2-of-6 -7 yds Int 

Receiving: S – Daisey 2, 22 yds;  Grass 1, 22 yds; D – Clay 2, 24 yds TD; Bowden 1, 0 yds; Adams 1, -7 yds

Rushing: S – Raymond 10, 149 yds 5 TD; Daisey 4, 55 yds; Grass 1, 45 yds TD; E. Michaud 1, 9 yds; D. Michaud 1, 9 yds; Carr 1, 6 yds; D – Langlais 13, 54 yds; O’Neill 5, 29 yds; Sullivan 4, 26 yds; Roderick 4, 16 yds; Hopkins-Watrous 3, 13 yds; Adams 2, 9 yds; Silanpaa 3, 6 yds

Records: S 1-0, D 0-1