The curtain goes up on the regular season tonight in Varnado as the Wildcats kickoff the 2014 year against Dexter from Mississippi.

Varnado is coming off of a 20-0 shutout win over Northlake Christian in the VHS Jamboree last week.

Wildcats coach Scott Shaffett felt his club played well in every part of last week’s game offensively, defensively and on special teams.

“We feel that if we win all three phases of the game, we feel like we’ll win,” Shaffett said. “We did that it showed in the score with the 20-0 win.”

Delrick Abrams had a hand in all three touchdowns for VHS. He threw the first one to D.J. Jefferson and ran in the last two. Nick Parker recorded a 2-point conversion for the Wildcats. Parker also recovered a fumble defensively and Wilbert Gray had a sack.

“I felt the whole team played very well defensively,” Shaffett said. “I thought the cornerbacks did a very good job of covering the receivers. I thought our linebackers did a good job of getting to the ball carriers. The line was very physical up front and disciplined. I thought they all did a good job.”

These teams met last season with Dexter winning 20-14.

Dexter, a member of the Mississippi High School Athletic Association, enters this week with an 0-1 record after falling to West Marion 40-0.

West Marion is a Class 3A school and Dexter is a 1A team.

The team has a limited roster of just 18 players. Coach Randy Sumrall said just about everybody plays on all three phases.

Sumrall said they’ve got a young team.

Terrion Bell is the quarterback of the team’s spread offense. He is a first year starter.

Sumrall said the junior can run it and throw it.

“He’s just got to perfect it. He’s still young,” Sumrall said

The running backs are Dabben Mcgowan and Jermain Pittman. The wide receivers are Lazarius Ratcliff, Ladarius Briggs and Kynan Hutchinson.

Defensively, the Bulldogs run a 4-4.

Dexter has a local connection to Washington Parish.

Former Franklinton assistant football coach and head tennis coach Adam Brumfield is the team’s offensive coordinator.

“Adam is coming to us from Franklinton where he was successful,” Sumrall said. “He’s an outstanding coach and fine young man. It looks like he’s going to be a real asset for our school.”

Next week, Varnado travels to Pine to face the Raiders.