ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: MARIO WHITNEY

Mario WhitneySchool: JacksonSport: FootballCoach: Carl GrossWeek Report: Whitney, a sophomore running back, lifted Jackson to a district title by rushing for 238 yards on 17 carries in a 41-27 win over Poplar Bluff. He also caught one pass for seven yards.

Season Report: Despite missing one game, Whitney leads Jackson with 15 touchdowns this year, two of them on kickoff returns and one on an interception return. The transfer from Georgia has averaged about 7.5 yards per carry this season.

Coach's comments: "The sky is the limit," said Gross. "I've been around football for a long time 25 years as a coach and eight years as a player and I don't think that I've ever seen a player as gifted as he is. His speed. His unbelievable hand-eye ability and the ability to make people miss. He's an awful good player right now, but with more strength and endurance, there's no telling what he could do. But sometimes we forget that he just turned 16 in October. It's not like we're talking about a 21-year old. But I will tell you this: He probably understands the game as well as any sophomore in high school I've been around. So many lose speed and slow their feet when they cut. Mario makes his cuts at full speed. Sometimes it doesn't look like he's moving as much side to side as he really is. "