Gateway pushes Jackson to 0-3

Tailback Anthony Pierson ran for three touchdowns as Gateway Tech breezed to a 39-14 road victory Friday night against Jackson.

After being injured on a late hit out of bounds during the first quarter, Pierson returned with vengeance in the second period with touchdown runs of 48 and 64 yards to stake Gateway Tech to a 13-0 lead.

The Jaguars kept the momentum rolling with a 50-yard scoring pass from quarterback Paul Rice to Marvin Dunn Jr. for a 19-0 lead with 1:36 left in the half.

Gateway (1-2) amassed 246 yards of offense in the half to just 40 yards for Jackson, which fell to 0-3.

Jackson's 0-3 start is its worst start since the 2002 season, and all three losses have come at home.

The Indians punted on all six of their first-half possessions, while Gateway scored on its final three possessions after punting its first four times with the ball.

The Jaguars turned the game into a rout in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns for a 32-0 lead. Rice scampered into the right corner of the end zone from 12 yards out, and Pierson added a 1-yard touchdown run in the period.

Jackson scored both of its touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first coming on a 25-yard pass from Bobby Clark to Skylar Kempf. The Indians made it 32-14 when Trent Sizemore scored on a 1-yard plunge with 7:17 left in the game.

Gateway closed the scoring on a 60-yard pass from Corey Butler to Robert O'Kelly.

Pierson finished the game with 167 yards rushing on 12 carries. Gateway amassed 253 yards on the ground and 471 yards overall.

Jackson finished with less than 200 yards of offense for the third straight game. The Indians ran the ball 31 times for 22 yards, while Clark completed 9 of 21 passes for 96 yards.

Kempf finished the game with three catches for 52 yards.

Sizemore led Jackson's ground game with 13 carries for 16 yards.

Check Sunday's Southeast Missourian for more on Jackson's game.