Jackson begins 'second season' with 36-21 victory

What started out looking like an easy Jackson win wound up being a dogfight.

The Indians couldn't have cared less. They were elated to begin their so-called second season on a high note.

"We could have done some stuff better," senior quarterback Bobby Clark said. "But a 'W' is a 'W.'"

Jackson opened Class 5 District 1 play with Friday night's 36-21 victory over visiting Poplar Bluff. The Indians led 22-0 in the first half before the Mules pulled within 29-21 late.

"We've been talking in the locker room all week about it being a new season," senior tailback Ethan Ruch said.

Jackson broke a four-game losing streak and improved to 3-5 overall.

Poplar Bluff, which has been depleted by injuries this year and was without its starting quarterback among many other regulars, fell to 1-7 after its sixth straight defeat.

"It starts over for everybody in the state," Clark said of district play. "Everybody started 0-0 tonight."

While Poplar Bluff struggled offensively without its quarterback -- most of the Mules' offensive plays consisted of various players running after taking direct snaps -- Jackson got a strong game from Clark.

Clark shook off two interceptions -- one led to a short touchdown drive and one was returned for a touchdown -- to complete 13 of 23 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 64 yards.

"The difference in the ballgame is our quarterback was healthy and they didn't have theirs," Jackson coach Van Hitt said. "A quarterback has to have a short memory. Bobby really bounced back [from the interceptions] and played well."

Said Clark: "I had a couple of picks. They were my fault. You've got to forget about it and come back."

Ruch also had a big performance, rushing for 165 yards on 26 carries and scoring four touchdowns.

Three of Ruch's touchdowns were from a yard out, but the last was a 46-yarder with 4 minutes, 59 seconds left that sealed the victory.

"A hundred percent of the credit goes to the offensive line," said Ruch, who has rushed for more than 800 yards this season. "Any running back has to have a line. You can't do it without them."

Jackson, which had a 418-193 advantage in total yardage, took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 15 plays while draining nearly seven minutes off the clock. Ruch went over from a yard out and sophomore Adam Brown kicked the first of his four conversions.

"I thought that drive set the tone," Hitt said.

A 39-yard touchdown pass from Clark to sophomore Lowgn Wren -- he took a short pass in the flat and raced untouched down the sideline -- midway through the second quarter made it 14-0.

Jackson's defense got in the act when junior linebacker Kyle Fields sacked sophomore quarterback Kortez Ellis in the end zone for a safety 1:41 before halftime for a 16-0 lead.

"Back in little league football," Fields said when asked if he ever had recorded a safety. "That's nothing like varsity.

"But it wasn't just me. It was the whole defense."

Ruch returned the ensuing free kick 29 yards to the Poplar Bluff 46.

On the next play, Clark and sophomore Brandon Wright hooked up for an artistic 44-yard completion as Wright made an over-the-shoulder catch of a perfect delivery along the sideline.

Ruch scored from a yard out with 1:13 left in the half as Jackson led 22-0 after a failed 2-point conversion.

"That was a great throw and catch," Hitt said.

The Indians were cruising as the Mules didn't appear to have any answers.

But after Wright recovered a fumble near midfield, Jackson tried to deliver a knockout blow but Clark had a pass intercepted and returned 35 yards by Eric Ramos.

A 15-yard facemask penalty by Jackson set up the Mules at the Indians' 26-yard line with 22 seconds left.

Ellis hit Austin Goodrich for a 26-yard touchdown two plays later with 9.8 seconds remaining. That made it 22-7 at the intermission and gave the Mules momentum.

"We jumped on them early and they kind of weathered the storm," Clark said. "They made it interesting, but our defense came up with some big stops."

After Poplar Bluff punted on the opening possession of the second half, Jackson's first possession ended when Clark's pass was intercepted and returned 50 yards for a touchdown by Chance Berry to make it 22-14.

Jackson answered with its second 80-yard touchdown drive of the night, this one covering 17 plays and taking more than eight minutes.

Another 1-yard plunge by Ruch 13 seconds into the fourth quarter bumped Jackson's lead to 29-14.

It took Poplar Bluff only 17 seconds to make it a one-score game again. On the first play after the kickoff, Kendric McCain took a direct snap and bolted 79 yards for a touchdown, slicing Jackson's lead to 29-21.

"We overpursued on that play, but overall our defense played well," Hitt said.

The Mules had two more possessions still behind just 29-21 but Jackson's defense stopped them cold.

Ruch broke free for his 46-yarder with 4:59 left and the Indians were home free.

"They didn't quit and we didn't quit. We stuck to our game plan," Ruch said. "It's nice to be 1-0 [in district]."

Poplar Bluff 0 7 7 7 -- 21

Jackson 7 15 0 14 -- 36

First Quarter

J -- Ethan Ruch 1 run (Adam Brown kick), 5:07

Second Quarter

J -- Lowgn Wren 39 pass from Bobby Clark (Brown kick), 6:08

J -- Safety, Kortez Ellis tackled in end zone, 1:41

J -- Ruch 1 run (run failed), 1:13

PB -- Austin Goodrich 26 pass from Ellis (Nate LeGrand kick), :09

Third Quarter

PB -- Chance Berry 50 interception return (LeGrand kick), 8:00

Fourth Quarter

J -- Ruch 1 run (Brown kick), 11:47

PB -- Kendric McCain 79 run (LeGrand kick), 11:30

J -- Ruch 46 run (Brown kick), 4:59

PB J

First downs 8 21

Rushes-yards 31-135 45-237

Passing yards 58 181

Passes 4-15-0 13-23-2

Punts 5-26 2-39.5

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 9-80 7-70

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Poplar Bluff, McCain 15-116, Cornelius Timothy 12-53, Ellis 2-minus 18, Sean Cisne 1-minus 7, team 1-minus 9. Jackson, Ruch 26-165, Clark 15-64, Mark Copen 4-11, team 3-minus 3.

PASSING -- Poplar Bluff, Ellis 4-13-58-0, McCain 0-0-0-2. Jackson, Clark 13-23-181-2.

RECEIVING -- Poplar Bluff, Goodrich 1-26, Brian Hicks 1-21, Dustin Hibler 1-6, McCain 1-5. Jackson, Wren 5-87, Brandon Wright 5-74, Chris Poyner 1-9, Ruch 1-6, Garrett Jones 1-5.