Indians improve to 11-0 with 5A Sectional victory

JACKSON, Mo. -- They say speed kills.

Well, so do five motivated linemen, a tough fullback and a talented backup tailback just waiting to get his chance.

After the state's fastest running back, Mario Whitney, exited the game late in the first half with a concussion, there was no panic on the sideline.

Instead, Stuart McIntosh & Co. took a 17-0 lead and expanded it, finishing off the Rockwood Summit Falcons 31-6 in a Class 5A Sectional game at Jackson Stadium.

McIntosh rushed for 177 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries as the Indians dominated the line of scrimmage.

"In the locker room, coach said he just wanted to play smashmouth football," said offensive guard/linebacker Kyle Perry, who also intercepted a pass. "We wanted to bloody some noses and take it to 'em."

And that they did.

On the first play of the second half, McIntosh found a huge hole, bashed a couple of defenders and ran 46 yards. Seven plays later, McIntosh scored from 6 yards out to give Jackson a 24-0 lead.

"I've been looking forward to this for years," said McIntosh, a junior. "It's exciting for me. The offensive line pushed me through it and if I didn't have them, I wouldn't have been able to do what I did."

"We wanted to show people we could score without Mario," said lineman Justin Rollet.

Added Jackson coach Carl Gross, "They showed that Mario's 2,300 rushing yards were no fluke."

Whitney wound up with 96 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in the first half. He sat on the bench with a blank expression on his face for the entire second half, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Gross said he was optimistic that Whitney will be ready for Monday's quarterfinal game at Parkway West, a 24-7 sectional winner over Lindbergh.

Whitney's 18-yard run on Jackson's second offensive play of the game gave the Indians a 7-0 lead. With 10:08 to go in the third quarter, Chad Reiminger hit his first career field goal, a 23-yard boot to give Jackson a 10-0 cushion.

Facing a fourth-and-24 situation from Summit's 34, quarterback Bryan Austin hit Justin Thompson on a deep route across the middle for a touchdown with 2:49 left in the second quarter as the Indians took a 17-0 lead.

McIntosh's score put the Indians up 24-0 and Jackson forced Summit three-and-out on the ensuing possession.

"After scoring, then shutting them down on defense was a big lift," Perry said.

Jackson's defense was dominant all night. The Indians outgained Summit 385-168 and intercepted five passes, two by Justin Thompson and one each by Perry, Brian Randolph and Gabe Baugh. Baugh made his pick despite wearing a small cast.

The Indians gave up their lone touchdown in the fourth quarter with 8:49 left. After a couple big pass plays, Scott Provaznik scored from 7 yards away.

The Indians scored their final touchdown with 45 seconds left when fullback Brad Berry smashed his way in from 2 yards out on fourth down.

Gross couldn't have been more pleased with the way his team played.

"It was a physical victory," said Gross. "I was worried about these kids not being ready after beating Poplar Bluff, but we came out and were very physical.

After Mario went out, I told the offensive line 'It's your game now' and they responded. And Stuart would have started on a lot of teams around here, he just happens to play behind Mario."