JACKSON DRAGS DISTRICT TITLE OUT OF MULES

JACKSON -- Mario, Mario. Wherefore art thou Mario.

Try looking in the end zone.

Or the district winner's circle.

Or anywhere he can find an ice pack.

Jackson sophomore running back Mario "Speedwagon" Whitney ran for 238 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns in leading the Indians to a mammoth 41-27 district win over Poplar Bluff Friday night."This was an emotional win," said an aching Whitney after the game. "This is the most I've carried the ball in a game this year and coach (Carl Gross) left me in. The line just did a great job tonight and now we have chance to win the district and conference championship."Actually, the win sewed up the district title and a playoff berth as Cape Central lost to Vianney 20-0 in the other Class 5A, District 1 game.

Whitney was one of several stars Friday night in an exhilarating offensive battle by both teams.

For Poplar Bluff, quarterback Stan Revelle completed 25 of 36 passes for 290 yards.

In a game highlighted by offense, two defensive plays stood out for the Indians.

With 2:03 left in the third quarter and Poplar Bluff at Jackson's 31, Indian cornerback Matt Holloway intercepted a pass in his own end zone.

The Indians took the ball on the ensuing possession and capped a time-consuming drive scored with a 1-yard dive by fullback Jason Schuller. The touchdown and extra-point conversion gave Jackson a 21-19 lead after trailing 19-14 at halftime.

The second and definitive defensive highlight for the Indians came with just more than two minutes remaining in the game. With his team leading by 14 points, Jackson's Kevin Brunke sacked Revelle on the Indians' 4-yard line on fourth down.

While Whitney put on a clinic he had eight Runs of 18 yards or more he had plenty of offensive help.

Tory Meyr was his usual steady and brilliant self with five catches for 90 yards. He had a touchdown reception for 45 yards and ran for a score from 9 yards out.

His 45-yard score from quarterback Chris Stockton was a thing of beauty.

On a busted play, Stockton was scrambling for his life. He spotted Meyr and threw it down the field. Meyr made a complete U-turn and kept his stride for the catch."We were running a 12-yard out," Meyr said. "They got some pressure on Stockton and he read my eyes and threw it. I just turned and it was right there. He played a great game under pressure tonight."The game started on a good note for Jackson.

The Indians took the ball on the first drive and Whitney, on his first carry, scored from 41 yards out making a remarkable cut back to midfield and burning a defender at about the 10.

After a 39-yard Poplar Bluff field goal attempt fell short, Jackson, early in the second quarter, went up 14-0 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Stockton to tight end Brunke.

Poplar Bluff answered with a 17-yard run by Lonnie Lewis, but a botched snap on the extra-point attempt made the score 14-6.

Poplar Bluff had two quick scores at the end of the first half to take the lead and the momentum into the locker room.

Revelle hit Ryan Dicken from 48 yards out to make the score 14-13, then, after a successful onside kick, Revelle eventually hit Rejeran George from 18 yards out to give Poplar Bluff a 19-14 lead.

Meyr's 45-yard TD reception put Jackson ahead 27-19, but the Mules answered with another touchdown strike to George.

On the very next offensive play from scrimmage, Whitney who had to be removed twice from the game because of injury ran it in for a 57-yard touchdown."The Speedwagon had a great night, but he had a lot of guys blocking for him," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "The thing he does that some of our other backs don't do -- and this isn't a knock on them -- is that when he hits the crease nobody can catch him."Meyr put the finishing touches on the scoring when he cut a reverse up the middle for nine yards.