DEXTER – Trying to find the right starting lineup for a high school football team can be like trying to put together a puzzle.

Coach Haggie Pratt knows how some of the pieces fit for his 2003 squad, but he has been working during the preseason trying to get the rest of the puzzle together.

Junior quarterback Eric Day (44-for-94, 425 yards, 4 touchdowns) leads the Tiger offense, with junior wide receiver Mark Pullen (6 catches, 43 yards, 1 touchdown) and junior tight end Chris Rabideau (1 catch, 46 yards, 1 touchdown) among the top passing targets.

“We want to try and throw the ball a little bit,” Pratt said.

Seniors Logan Schoenbacher and Tyler Richardson lead the way at running back, where Dexter was hit hard by the graduation of Adam Russell (1,142 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and Aaron Vafiades (571 yards, 6 touchdowns). Senior Brad Chase will lead the Tiger offensive line.

“We’re flip-flopping everybody,” Pratt said. “We’re giving everyone plenty of reps.”

On defense, Chase (linebacker), Rabideau (end), Pullen (end), Schoenbacher (safety), Richardson (safety), and Blake Woodruff (linebacker/line) are returning starters.

“The other guys, we’ll have to plug in sophomores and try to figure it all out,” Pratt said.

Pratt said he is looking for steady improvement from the Tigers as the season progresses.

“We’re going to take each game, take each day, and try to improve and try to be a factor as we go,” he said. “I think we’re capable of improving every day.”

DEXTER TIGERS

2002 record: 4-5, 5th in LTC C

Head coach: Haggie Pratt, 10th season

Key players: Eric Day, QB, Jr.; Brad Chase, OL-LB, Sr.; Chris Rabideau, TE-DE, Jr.; Mark Pullen, WR-DE, Jr.; Logan Schoenbacher, RB-S, Sr.; Tyler Richardson, RB-S, Sr.; Blake Woodruff, LB-DL, Jr.

Outlook: The Tigers have only 28 players, meaning conditioning and avoiding injury will be crucial. Offensively, the Tigers will look to pass and could also mix in some option as well. Dexter will have to slug it out with a group of several teams in order to roar into postseason play.