INDIANS USE .500 SEASON AS UNUSUAL MOTIVATOR

Jackson has not played a completely meaningless game in over four years.

Tonight, when Jackson faces Vianney in a Class 5A District 1 game at 7:30 at Jackson, absolutely nothing tangible will be on the line. Both teams are out of the playoff picture.

But as one might expect, the Indians have not lost purpose. Jackson coach Carl Gross finds ample meaning any time his team lines up against another 11 players.

"We're not used to this, but the big thing is, this is a pride game for us," Gross said. "We can come out of it 5-5 and go out on a good note, or we can go out 4-6 and have them lose the last football game they might play."

Jackson is 4-5 overall and 1-1 in District 1 after losing 22-6 to Cape Central last week. Vianney is 3-6 and 0-2 after a 22-7 loss to Poplar Bluff.

The Indians will be without 1,000-yard rusher Todd Wessel, who was injured in the third quarter of last week's game.

Wessel has torn knee ligaments and will undergo reconstructive knee surgery.

Chris Freeman, who started the year at quarterback for Jackson, will start in place of Wessel for the third time this season. Freeman rushed for over 100 yards against Soldan.

Running would have been hard enough against Vianney fully loaded.

"They're huge," Gross said. "I don't think we're going to be able to (line up and go right at Vianney), even with Todd."

So Jackson will further open an attack which has been diversifying recently.

Quarterback Andy Callis completed 12 of 25 passes for 149 yards last week. Harith Jones (6 catches, 87 yards) and Tory Meyr (4 catches, 48 yards) were his primary targets.

"If could go back and do anything different," Gross said, "I would have thrown the football more often early in the season."

Vianney has a potent offensive attack which scored 30 points in a loss to Cape Central in week one of district play.

All-Metro Catholic Conference right tackle Bob Houchin (310 pounds) anchors a big offensive line which also includes right guard Amahd Polack (260), center Jerry Eidson (230), left guard Pat Walsh (210) and left tackle Mike Nettemeyer (240).

Fullback David Wucher leads the Golden Griffins in rushing with nearly 1,000 yards out of a double-slot attack.

Vianney's defense is suspect, however. It's secondary did not stand up to the test against the strong passing games of SLUH, Central or Poplar Bluff.

Vianney has lost six games in a row after a 3-0 start.

"It's really been kind of frustrating," Vianney coach Gene Gladstone said. "We'll play good defense for an extended period, and then somebody pops a big play on us. But this isn't the time of year to do anything different. We're just going to try to execute for four quarters."

Look for both teams to light it up.

"To be really honest," Gross said. "I think we're going to have to score four or five times to beat them."