Indians will try to use Stars to stay on course

~ Jackson will host McCluer North tonight in the Class 5 quarterfinals.

Jackson wide receiver and defensive back Matt Lang said the Indians' game plan for their first postseason contest in six years is simple.

"We just need to keep to what we have been doing: play hard-nose defense, read our keys and hopefully not make any mistakes," he said. "When you get to the playoffs, I think mistakes are going to play a role in the decision of the outcome."

Jackson coach Carl Gross has emphasized to his young team that they must play mistake-free football, including eliminating penalties, against a McCluer North team that is built much like his own. He said the Stars have a strong defense and their offense focuses largely on running the football.

The Indians (10-0) will host McCluer North (8-2) tonight in the quarterfinal round of the Class 5 state tournament.

Jackson players say they are ready for their first postseason test.

"Anybody can get excited for a playoff game," Lang said. "It's the first time [in Jackson] for a while. I think since Mario Whitney."

The last time the Indians were in the postseason was back in 2001, when star running back Whitney helped the Indians reach the semifinals his senior year.

McCluer North has five sate tournament appearances since 2001, including four top-four finishes.

The winner advances to the semifinals next Friday against the winner of the Kirkwood (9-0) and Waynesville (9-1) quarterfinal game tonight in Kirkwood.

The McCluer offense features five backs with more than 200 yards rushing. Leading the attack is Damonte Bell with 892 yards on 143 carries, Darius Stewart with 456 yards on 58 carries and fullback Courtney Tucker with 318 yards on 61 carries.

The Stars typically run out of four different offensive formations, which should not be too tricky for the Indians to handle. But they often sustain long drives that keep opposing offenses off the field. And Gross said when the other team finally does get its chance, it often begins to force plays and make mistakes.

"A lot of people, they get down to them a little bit and they panic and start doing things they're not used to doing," said Gross, who emphasized that his team needed to play the same way it has during the regular season and manage the game from start to finish.

The Stars also have two quarterbacks who have thrown for more than 300 yards: Kory Kern and Ralph Watson, both juniors. Kern has competed 28 of 53 passes for 322 yards and Watson has completed 26 of 55 passes for 310 yards.

In McCluer North's 17-13 win over Hazelwood East last week to clinch its district 2 title, the Stars got down 13-0 early and Watson replaced Kern at quarterback, leading the comeback. Watson is a dual threat, as he can also run the football.

When the Stars do pass, Gross said, they do it vertically and not as much out into the flats.

Gross was not shy about giving out his offensive approach. He said it will be no different from every other game this season, centering around the rushing attack. The Indians are led by running back Adam Zweigart, who is second in all of Southeast Missouri in rushing with 165 carries for 1,404 yards.

Gross, who said all his starters are healthy and ready to go, added that he will take his shots at the bigger plays when the situations arise.

Junior quarterback Marcus Harris has improved both his accuracy and his ability to find receivers as the season has progressed. He has completed 44 of 97 passes for 600 yards. He has thrown 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Lang has emerged as his top target with 17 catches for 330 yards.

"I think our linemen are going to block good, and I think Marcus will put the ball where he always does," Lang said.

But again, Gross said the key will be holding onto the football and not making mistakes.

"The first team that makes a mistake, puts the ball on the ground or makes an interception, is a lot of times the momentum changer," Gross said. "So what you want to do is try to protect the football and play field position and take your shots when you get them.

"We want to limit the number of penalties, the flinches and false starts, those freebee yards that you give them."

Zweigart said that the Indians have been going over previous mistakes for about 10 minutes during practice each day, and he said he and his teamates although young, will be prepared and ready.

"Since we're young, we're going to come out and compete as hard as we can," Zweigart said.