JACKSON PREPARES FOR '96 CAMPAIGN

Offense and defense practice on Wednesday.

Coach Gross espects good things out of tight end Travis Wilson, above, this season.

The players come to practice in good shape and have allowed the coaching staff to work on offense and defense.

Mike Gross fires a pass over the middle at practice.

Coach Carl Gross, to the right with hat, gives his offense a play to work on in the huddle.

Coach Carl Gross says he's got a good nucleus to build around with his 1996 Jackson Indians and with Jackson's move to 5A football he'll need to rely on the leadership of his returning starters.

"Our philosophy in Jackson is to put the best players on the field. We're looking at six or seven kids that have to play both ways," Gross said.

"We changed our philosophy in 1994 and it has paid off," Gross said of his change from platooning players to playing the some of the better players both ways.

Jackson is coming off back to back seasons where they made it to the championship game in 4A and look to seniors Mike Gross (6'0, 185 lb., QB/CB), Glen Brunke (6'1, 230 lb., RB/LB) and Travis Reiminger (6'1, 215 lb., RB/NT) to lead them through a tough schedule of power house football teams from around the state.

Returning starters from last year's runner-up team include offensive linemen Greg Schemel (senior), Justin Petzoldt (junior) and Travis Wilson (junior).

Coach Gross has returning wide receivers Nathan Turley (senior) and Justin Keen (junior). Gross said senior Kyle Glass is looking good at wide receiver.

On defense, Coach Gross has plenty of returning starters to build around returning senior linebacker Josh Adams and a trio of junior linebackers Justin Gladish, Travis Wilson and Brandon Stereiler to lead the defense.

Gross said that Kent Langston, a junior, is looking good in practice at linebacker and he is pleased with what he has seen from senior tight end Chip Sherrod.

"Our kids are working hard right now preparing for the season. They came to practice in good shape, so we have been able to focus on teaching offense and defense," Gross said.

"By the time the first game gets here, we'll be more than ready," Gross added.

The schedule for Jackson will be a tough one.

"We're not going to be able to look past anybody this season," Gross said.

Jackson finished 11-3 last season, one win short of the state championship.

Jackson's season begins on Sept. 6, when they get to try their power game against Riverview Gardens St. Louis.

Jackson Indian High School Football Schedule 1996

Sept. 6 Jackson at Riverview Gardens St. Louis 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 Vashon at Jackson 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Hannibal at Jackson 2 p.m.

Sept. 27 Open

Oct. 4 Lutheran North at Jackson 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Jackson at Belleville Althoff 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 Dexter at Jackson 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 *Sikeston at Jackson 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 Jackson at *Poplar Bluff 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 8 *Cape Central at Jackson 7:30 p.m.

Jackson Indians Roster 1996

#3 Ryan Beltz soph. 5'11 170 RB/LB

#8 Mike Gross sr. 6'0 185 QB/CB

#9 Paul Findlay soph. 5'7 148 QB/LB

#10 Justin Gladish jr. 5'10 180 RB/LB

#11 Todd Wessel soph. 6'0 165 RB/DB

#12 Kelly McElrath soph. 5'10 140 QB/DB

#13 Harith Jones soph. 5'11 156 WR/DB

#14 Andy Callis soph. 5'10 148 WR/DB

#15 Dean Bucher jr. 6'0 160 WR/DB

#16 Aaron Roth jr. 5'8 124 WR/DB

#19 Nick Hilt jr. 5'6 119 WR/DB

#20 Robert Haupt soph. 5'9 127 WR/DB

#21 Justin Keen II jr. 6'4 185 QB/DB

#22 Josh Adams sr. 5'11 195 RB/LB

#24 Kyle Ward jr. 5'10 160 FB/DB

#26 Kevin Carnell jr. 5'7 120 WR/DB

#27 Nathan McWilliams soph. 5'10 160 RB/LB

#32 Devree Flint jr. 6'1 220 RB/LB

#33 Kyle Glass sr. 6'2 175 WR/DB

#34 Chris Holloway sr. 5'9 160 WR/DB

#35 Glen Brunke sr. 6'1 230 RB/LB

#36 Ryan Propst soph. 5'10 145 RB/CB

#40 Travis Reiminger sr. 6'1 215 TE/DE

#42 Tyson Schoolfield sr. 5'7 145 RB/DB

#44 Neil Collier soph. 5'9 175 RB/LB

#45 Jason Goben jr. 5'9 150 RB/DB

#46 Chip Sherrod sr. 6'2 190 TE/LB

#50 Lance McClard jr. 5'10 180 OL/DL

#51 Kris Baranovic jr. 6'1 170 OL/LB

#53 Kyle Thompson jr. 5'8 175 OL/LB

#54 Hance Bartels soph. 5'6 145 OL/LB

#55 Kent Langston jr. 6'3 210 OL/LB

#56 Andy Stover sr. 5'11 205 OL/DL

#58 James Hitt sr. 5'8 165 OL/DL

#59 Craig Bohnsack soph. 5'8 159 OL/DL

#61 Andy Dodson sr. 6'1 220 OL/DL

#62 Eric Rosborg jr. 6'1 200 OL/DL

#63 Chad Francis jr. 6'2 220 Ol/DL

#65 Nick Lohman soph. 6'2 253 OL/DL

#66 Devin Bradley soph. 5'10 155 OL/DL

#67 J.P. Hall jr. 6'4 250 OL/DL

#68 Jason St. John sr. 6'1 225 OL/DL

#69 Derek Amelunke soph. 5'10 149 OL/DL

#70 Lucas Amelunke soph. 5'10 154 OL/DL

#72 Matt Williams soph. 6'1 260 OL/DL

#73 Aaron Ross jr. 5'10 225 OL/DL

#74 Greg Schemel sr. 6'1 205 OL/DL

#75 Justin Petzoldt jr. 6'0 190 OL/DL

#78 Larry Jamieson soph. 5'6 210 OL/DL

#81 Paul Leoni jr. 6'0 170 TE/OB

#82 Travis Wilson jr. 6'0 175 TE/LB

#83 Brandon Streiler jr. 6'0 185 TE/LB

#85 Nathan Turley sr. 5'11 172 WR/DB

Coaching Staff

Carl Gross head coach

Bob Sink assistant coach

Van Hitt assistant coach

Brandon Norman assistant coach