First season win not part of Jackson's night of firsts

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- It was a night of season firsts for the Jackson offense Friday during Week 6 of the high school football season.

* The Indians featured their first 100-yard rusher when junior Ethan Ruch collected 141 yards on 23 carries.

* A struggling offense topped the 200-yard mark for the first time, totaling 261 yards.

* Jackson held its first lead at the end of a quarter, when it led the Knights 7-3 after the first period.

Unfortunately for the Indians, they were unable to collect one vital first: A first win for the 2009 season.

Jackson running back Mark Copen catches a pass during the fourth quarter Friday in Farmington, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

While the Jackson offense showed some spark, Farmington quarterback Zach Hibbits and a flock of Knights receivers were on fire.

Hibbits distributed 27 completions to seven receivers for 333 yards and three touchdowns as Farmington won the SEMO North Conference game 30-20. The senior's passing totals came on just 34 attempts. The Knights won their third straight and improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

"They can play pitch and catch, and the little quarterback doesn't make any mistakes," Jackson coach Van Hitt said. "He throws the ball where the receivers can catch it, and they don't miss it."

While Jackson fell to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference, its 20-point output matched its total from its four previous games combined.

"I feel a little better," Ruch said. "We're still disappointed to lose, but I don't think the film will be as hard to watch as this past week's was."

Farmington quarterback Zach Hibbits is sacked by Jackson's Max McNeely during the second quarter Friday.

A week earlier, Jackson suffered a 38-3 loss to defending Class 6 champion Hazelwood Central, and the Indians appeared ready to make a statement as they returned to conference play.

Morgan Johnson booted the opening kickoff through the end zone, the Indians forced a three-and-out by Farmington, got great field position at the Farmington 31 and gave the Knights a quick dose of Ruch.

After an offsides on Farmington, Ruch covered the remaining 26 yards on four consecutive carries. An 8-yard run at the 9:09 mark gave Jackson its first lead since the first quarter of its season opener.

Ruch finished the first half with 72 yards, which was more than the ground attack has been getting for entire games.

"It stepped up tonight," Hitt said of the offense. "Our offensive line got off the ball and we got people blocked and moved the ball well on offense all night long. We just couldn't put enough points on the board to get it done."

Jackson quarterback Bobby Clark eludes Farmington defenders on his way to scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter Friday.

The Indians also passed for 130 yards.

"I think as a team we came together," Ruch said. "I feel we played a lot better."

The Knights' offense was particularly effective in the first half as Hibbits completed 16 of 17 passes for 215 yards. Farmington had 16 of its 26 first downs in the half as it controlled the ball with its no-huddle, short passing game.

Hibbits threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Johnson and a 47-yard strike to Kyle Odle during the second quarter as Farmington took a 17-7 lead by halftime.

But the Indians opened the second half much as they did the first.

Jackson's Trent Sizemore grabs Farmington's Andrew Johnson who was brought down on the play during the fourth quarter Friday.

Ruch took the opening kickoff into Farmington territory, then rushed three times and pulled in a 14-yard screen pass to move Jackson to the Knights' 8. On a second-down play, Ruch reached the 5, but fumbled as he struggled to get closer to the end zone.

Farmington recovered, then covered the 95 yards in 14 plays, converting on a fourth-down play at the Indians' 19. Sophomore running back Connor DaVault gave Farmington a 23-7 lead with a 9-yard run up the middle at the 5:41 mark of the third quarter.

Jackson misfired on its next possession when the snap was mishandled on a 37-yard field goal attempt.

"Like I told the kids after the game, there's no one thing that cost us this ballgame," Hitt said. "There were a lot of little one things. All the way from missed assignments in the secondary to fumbles to the whole 99 yards."

Jackson took advantage of Farmington's lone turnover to spark a fourth-quarter comeback.

Jackson coach Van Hitt talks to his players during the third quarter Friday at Farmington. (Fred Lynch)

Jackson's Tommy Selsor jarred the ball loose from the Knights' return man on a punt and recovered it at the Farmington 36.

Indians quarterback Bobby Clark connected on a 13-yard fourth-down pass to Eli Gohn on the possession and scored on a 22-yard draw two plays later.

"Ethan did a good job and our line is improving," Gohn said. "Our passing game is improving and we're putting it together."

Farmington was forced to punt on its next series and Jackson responded with an eight-play, 61-yard drive. Ruch covered the final 28 yards when he went around the right end and split two Farmington defenders around the 15.

"Our line just blew the defense off the ball," Ruch said. "They gave me some great lanes to run through."

Jackson's Ethan Ruch carries the ball before he is tackled by Farmington's Brett Bader during the first quarter Friday.

Johnson's PAT trimmed the lead to 23-20 with 6:40 left. He then boomed the ensuing kickoff through the end zone.

Farmington took over at the 20, and Hibbits and his teammates proceeded to put together a 12-play touchdown drive that frustrated the Indians' defense. The Knights converted on four straight third-down plays, the latter a 14-yard scoring pass from Hibbits to Jonathon Bird on third-and-4 with 2:18 remaining.

"We just couldn't get them stopped," Hitt said.

The ending was frustrating for Hitt, but at the same time, it was the first time the Indians had hope for a win that late in a game this season.

"We played a lot harder, and we played the whole game," Hitt said. "There was no quit and no let up. They played with their hearts, and that's what we stress."

Jackson 7 0 0 13 -- 20

Farmington 3 14 6 7 -- 30

First Quarter

J -- Ethan Ruch 8 run (Morgan Johnson kick), 9:09

F -- Logan Bradley 29 FG, 4:39

Second Quarter

F -- Zach Hibbits 13 pass to Andrew Johnson (Bradley kick), 9:08

F -- Hibbits 47 pass to Kyle Odle (Bradley kick), 1:20

Third Quarter

F -- Connor DaVault 9 run (kick failed), 5:41

Fourth Quarter

J -- Bobby Clark 22 run (pass failed), 11:06

J -- Ruch 28 run (Johnson kick), 6:40

F -- Hibbits 14 pass to Jonathon Bird (Bradley kick), 2:18

J F

First downs 16 23

Rushes-yards 34-131 43-103

Passing yards 130 333

Passes 12-31-0 27-34-0

Punts 4-31.8 7-30.7

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-Yards 2-19 7-55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Jackson, Ruch 23-141, Ryan Marble 2-6, Clark 7-(-4), Johnson 1-(-12), team 2-(-10); Farmington, DaVault 13-38, Hibbits 15-4, Charlie Uptegrove 14-49, Cole Thomure 1-14

PASSING -- Jackson, Clark 12-31-0-130; Farmington, Hibbits 27-34-0-333

RECEIVING -- Jackson, Tommy Selsor 6-72, Eli Gohn 4-34, Ruch 1-14, Mark Copen 1-10; Farmington, Bird 4-30, Uptegrove 1-5, Andrew Johnson 8-105, Odle 4-78, Thomure 5-45, Brett Bader 4-56, Doug Warren 1-14.