INDIANS, MULES MEET IN DISTRICT SHOWDOWN

JACKSON -- For Jackson, the only way tonight's game could have more meaning is if it was against its archrival Cape Central.

When Poplar Bluff comes to town for a 7:30 kickoff there will be a lot on the line: a district title, a conference title and the bragging rights as the top large school in Southeast Missouri.

There will be a packed house at Jackson Stadium and anyone who has been following the regional high school football scene will be interested in the outcome of this contest.

But put the hype aside and it all comes down to one minor detail: playing the game."It will come down to just playing football -- making the tackles and making the plays," said Jackson coach Carl Gross.

Both the Mules, last year's district champs, and the Indians come into the game with 7-1 records.

Poplar Bluff, whose only loss came to No. 9 Columbia Hickman, has played a tougher schedule, but Jackson -- which lost to 8-0 Dyersberg, Tenn. -- has done better against common opponents.

Jackson's defense seems better, but Poplar Bluff has the most dangerous and versatile offense in Southeast Missouri.

On special teams, it's a toss up.

In other words, it's too close to call."It's hard to predict high school games," Gross said. "I had a game a couple years ago that I thought would be a 7-6 game and it turned out to be 49-42. I think they'll score some points but I think people who have followed us would expect us to score too. But you never know with the high school kids with the crowd and the adrenaline."When asked if he thought Jackson's chances would be better with a low scoring game or a shootout, Gross said, "I don't care what the score is as long as we're one up at the end."Either team could mathematically clinch the Class 5A, District 1 title tonight. If Jackson wins and Vianney beats Cape Central, the Indians will advance to the state playoffs. Poplar Bluff will clinch if it beats Jackson and Cape Central defeats Vianney.

It's difficult to predict what Poplar Bluff will do on defense tonight."It's weird," Gross said. "They'll run the ball 40 times and pass it 20 sometimes. Then other times, they'll throw it 40 and run it 20. A lot of it is determined on the defense they go against. We're going to have to creep some in and creep some out. We'll have to keep them off balance."Poplar Bluff doesn't seem to have a weak spot on offense.

With a 1,000-yard runner in Lonnie Lewis and a 1,500-yard passer in Stan Revelle, Poplar Bluff puts defensive coordinators in no-win situations.

The first thing that Jackson will try to do is contain the run."We've got to be able to run the football," Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse said. "You can't sit back and throw it all the time. We're going to take what they give us. If they stack a bunch of guys on the line, we'll throw it."We've seen a little bit of everything this year. Hopefully we can handle what they throw at us."Jackson will try to put pressure on Revelle, likely the best thrower in Southeast Missouri."We'd like to force him to move and we'd like to chase him around," Gross said. "But we've seen three films and nobody has gotten to him. He usually hits the hot receiver on blitzes. They've got a good system going with him."Poplar Bluff is the most pass-oriented team Jackson has faced this year. The Mules have four players with at least 17 catches and none with more than 22. Rejeran George seems to be a big playmaker for the Mules with 20 catches for 414 yards (20.7 yards per catch), but Ryan Whelan is more of a possession-type receiver with 22 receptions for 280 yards (12.7 yards a catch).With receivers coming from every direction, Jackson's secondary will be put to the test. But the Indians' two best athletes -- safety Tory Meyr and cornerback Mario Whitney -- will be looking to make some plays along with Chris Freeman and Matt Holloway in the defensive backfield."We hope the secondary will make some plays," Gross said. "But it won't be a matter of one or two guys stopping them. A lot of a good pass defense depends on our linebackers. it will also depend on the defensive line getting pressure up front."Jackson's offense, meanwhile, is no slouch either.

While the Indians have lacked the big plays on the ground this year, the ground game has been effective enough to move the chains and set up huge pass completions.

Meyr has been unbelievable this season with 32 catches for 619 yards (19.3 average) and 12 touchdowns.

But Barousse knows there is more to Jackson's offense than Meyr."I think they're like us," he said. "I don't think you can gear to stop any one aspect of the game. You want to contain (Meyr) and slow him down. If you gear your defense to stop him, you create open passing lanes for Whitney and the two big tight ends they have."I think if we can stop the run, we can force them to throw the football. I think that's the key to the game. They throw it extremely well, but if we can eliminate one aspect of the game, we'll be okay."Whitney has been doing a little of everything lately. Gross has split the team's touchdown leader as a receiver and uses him also at running back, his natural position. On defense he plays corner and is a weapon as a kick and punt returner. He has scored at least one touchdown from all those positions this year. He has 13 touchdowns despite missing a game.