JACKSON CRUSHES CRUSADERS

ST. LOUIS -- With Lutheran North High's leading rusher out with an injury, Jackson showed the Crusaders what they were missing.

The Indians rushed for 297 yards on 38 carries and beat Lutheran North 49-7 on a steamy afternoon in St. Louis.

"When you can run the ball like that, that's the best defense you can play," said Jackson coach Carl Gross.

Jackson's Devree Flint ran 15 times for 106 yards, including two one-yard touchdown runs. Todd Wessel carried the ball six times for 88 yards, including the Indians' first touchdown, a 58-yard scamper, and another scoring run of 16 yards.

Jackson (5-0) scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters and seven in the fourth. Lutheran North, which opened the season 3-0 but is now 3-2, scored its only touchdown in the first quarter. The Indians outgained the Crusaders 389 to 93.

The Indians' quarterback, Justin Keen, was 2-of-4 for 94 yards. Those two completions were both touchdown tosses: a 79-yard heave to Harith Jones in the second quarter and a 15-yard pass to Travis Wilson in the third.

Jackson's Ryan Propst scored the fourth-quarter touchdown on a 14-yard run.

Lutheran North's Stacey Johnson, who rushed for 581 yards in the Crusaders' first four games, didn't play Saturday.

"We didn't expect to dominate (Lutheran North) like we did," Gross said. "Our defense coaches were nervous about the game because of all of their speed."

Jackson has outscored opponents 176-42 this season.