JACKSON CHRISTENS '00 SEASON WITH SIKESTON

Last year at this time, Jackson and Sikeston went into the season opener not knowing what to expect. Going into the season, it was basically a coin toss as to who would win.

My, how times have changed.

But Jackson, which knocked off Sikeston 35-0 last year, will be the clear favorite to win tonight when the Indians play host to the Bulldogs at 7:30.

"They're definitely tough," said Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery. "They're picked to win the conference, picked to win the district in 5A -- and generally speaking, they're probably picked to be the No. 1 team in Southeast Missouri."

Without all-stater and 2,000-yard rusher Justin Robinson, Sikeston doesn't appear to have a dominating running back to carry the team on his shoulders this season. The Bulldogs have an inexperienced quarterback and no "burners" on either side of the ball.

Jackson, meanwhile, has speedster Mario Whitney who, on paper, seems to give Jackson a huge advantage.

"Obviously, they're going to try to get the ball to Whitney," said Vickery of Jackson's junior running back who ran for 809 yards and scored 17 touchdowns last year. "He's the fastest kid in Southeast Missouri and he's a game-breaker. We know they're going to give him the football, it's just a matter of trying to contain him, kind of like what they tried to do last year against (Justin) Robinson. The guy's going to get some yards, you just got to try to keep it to a minimum."

Jackson coach Carl Gross, whose team went 10-2 last year, readily admits that Whitney will be a key to the offense, but he warns that there are more play-makers on his team than Whitney.

Gross is high on tight end/wide receiver Ray Goodson, a senior who moved from Ozark. An all-state linebacker last year, Goodson has the size (6-5, 215) and speed to create mismatches. Fullback Brad Berry has big-play capabilities as does running back Joe Walter, who was impressive in last week's jamboree at Perryville.

But the most intriguing matchup tonight will be in the trenches.

Both Sikeston and Jackson sport some serious beef up front.

The average Sikeston offensive lineman weighs 229 pounds, while the average Jackson defensive lineman weighs 232. On the flip side, the average weight of a Jackson offensive lineman is 249 pounds, while the Sikeston defensive lineman goes 255 pounds on average.

"(Their size) concerns me, but at the same time I'm excited about it," said Gross. "Our offensive and defensive lines, we think, are good and we'll find out how good."

"That's where it all starts," said Vickery. "Whether it be on offense or defense, it starts up front. That's a good test for us. I think our line is good and we've got some good size up there and I think we've got some good players up front. They'll get tested right off the bat."

Gross said he isn't buying that Sikeston won't have a good running back.

"They talk about finding skill people and I know Vickery well enough to know he'll find a good running back," said Gross. "I guarantee he'll have a quality player at that position by the end of the year."

Said Vickery, "We're going to have to spread it out a little more. Everybody's going to have to contribute more whether it's the quarterback or the wingback or the fullback or the running back. We're going to spread it out a little more."