INDIANS' FLINT TORCHES CRUSADERS

JACKSON -- Opponents for the Jackson Indians be warned: Not only is Devree Flint arguable the best running back in the area, but he's not a bad quarterback either.

Flint ran for three touchdowns Friday night, then added a new wrinkle to his offensive arsenal, throwing a 22-yard TD pass to Todd Wessel in the fourth quarter to seal the Indians 28-6 homecoming victory over Belleville (Ill.) Althoff.

The victory avenged the Indians only regular-season loss last year to the Crusaders, and keeps Jackson the only undefeated team in the area with a 6-0 mark. Althoff, coming off a 40-21 loss to Cape Central last week, dropped to 2-5.

Although Flint's halfback pass came off without a hitch, the play was never supposed to be run. Jackson coach Carl Gross had actually called a running play, but quarterback Justin Keen misread an index card on his wrist with the Indians' offensive plays.

"There was a mix-up on the play," Flint admitted after the game. "The coaches signal the plays in and Justin looks on his little card. He just picked the wrong play."

Judging by the result, Flint might want to say it was the right play.

"Our signals got crossed up, we ran the halfback pass and we come out smelling like a rose," said Gross. "I guess it was an appropriate time to kind of ice the game for us. The players executed real well on it. Wessel made a heck of a catch and Devree made a real nice throw."

Besides Flint's perfect night of passing, he also totalled 171 yards rushing on 24 carries. With several of Jackson's victories being blowouts, it was also one of the few games all year Flint was able to play into the fourth quarter.

"I was a little tired, but I knew I had to suck it up for the team," Flint said. "But it wasn't just me doing things, it was really the linemen because I was really fatigued at the end."

Although Gross wasn't able to rest his starters as he had in some of the Indians' previous wins, the outcome was never in doubt after the Indians opened a 21-0 halftime lead.

Jackson used a seven-play, 99-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter to seize the momentum from Althoff after a Crusaders punt rolled dead just in front of the Jackson end zone.

"The ball was about a foot from the goal line," said Keen.

The Indians didn't take long to change that. On the first play of the drive, Keen lofted a play-action pass to Travis Wilson down the Indians' sideline for a 42-yard gain.

"Sometimes when your down in a hole, you have to try something to get out of it," Keen said of the gutsy call. "I was very nervous about (the play) because I didn't want the safety. But they weren't expecting it, so I knew I could get it off."

Keen's nerves didn't show on the pass, as he calmly faked a running play and hit Wilson in stride with a defender on his tail.

"Justin made a tremendous throw and Travis made a nice over-the-shoulder catch," Gross said. "Justin's got ice-water in his veins. He's played for three years and he's been involved in competitions all his life."

Keen completed 8-of-17 passes for 130 yards. Once again, Wilson was his favorite target, hauling in five passes for 100 yards.

"Somehow I usually find Travis all the time," said Keen. "I don't know what it is."

Flint finished the long -- but quick -- drive with an spectacular 31-yard scamper. Jackson took only three minutes to cover the 99 yards. Keen's kick made the score 7-0.

Flint scored two more times before the half on short runs to give Jackson a 21-0 lead. After an Althoff score just prior to the fourth quarter, Jackson's Jason Goben but the Indians back in scoring position with a 62-yard kickoff return to the Althoff 39.

Two minutes later, Flint threw his TD pass to Wessel to seal the victory.