JACKSON FALLS JUST SHORT OF STATE TITLE

COLUMBIA -- A sea of red gave the Jackson High School football Indians one final ovation after they received their trophy from state officials Friday afternoon at Faurot Field.

Playing in the Class 4A state championship game against Excelsior Springs, the Indians had just completed a typical second half. They had nearly tripled their opponent's second-half yardage while shutting them out the final 24 minutes.

However, the trophy in the hands of the Indians was that of second place.

Unable to overcome two early Excelsior Springs touchdowns, Jackson fell 12-6 to the state champion Tigers.

A remarkable Jackson Indian season, which included the school's first appearance in a football state championship game, concluded at 12-2. Excelsior Springs finished with a 13-1 record.

Jackson's state championship hopes died on the Tiger 40-yard line as a stubborn Ron Styer was brought down by Excelsior defenders after receiving a 7-yard pass. Time expired to thwart a desperation drive by the Indians which started at the Jackson 8-yard line with 2:36 left.

Jackson, behind 129 yards rushing by sophomore Glen Brunke, held a 268 to 227 advantage in total yards. In the second half, the Indians held a 170 to 62 edge in offense.

"It feels like we ran out of time," said Jackson head coach Carl Gross.

Senior tailback Brock Smith scored two big-play touchdowns as Excelsior scored on its first two possessions of the game. Jackson's defense, which came in averaging less than six points allowed per game, had not given up two first-half touchdowns to a team all season.

It forced a run-oriented Jackson attack to play catch-up football, and the climb back was hindered by poor field position, a scrappy Tiger defense which turned in two sacks and an occasional flag.

One fourth-quarter holding penalty negated a 60-yard run by Rob Langford with Jackson trailing 12-6.

"It seemed like we were one step away the whole time," said Jackson senior linebacker Bryan Foster. "We'd drive the ball and maybe drop a pass, someone might miss a block or there would be a flag like in the second half. We always seemed one step away."

In the first half, the Indian defense always seemed to be one play away from stopping Excelsior.

"The first half we stopped them two or three plays and then they'd have one big play," said senior linebacker Reagan McDowell. "This game was made of big plays."

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 49 yards in six plays. Excelsior picked up 47 of the yards on two third-down plays. The first, a 13-yard pass to Smith on third-and-8, moved the ball to the Indian 34. Two running plays followed and netted just one yard. On third-and-9, Smith took a pitch wide left, was able to turn the corner and outran the defense. The extra-point attempt failed, but Excelsior led 6-0 with 9:27 left in the first quarter.

"We've been a big-play offense all year," said Excelsior coach Vic Bonuchi. "That's basically what our offense wants."

Jackson's offense showed it could move the ball on its following possession, using 13 plays to drive from its own 35 to the Excelsior 9. The drive ended on downs with an incomplete fourth-and-4 pass.

Excelsior then started at its own 9 and drove 91 yards in 11 plays. The drive nearly stalled on two occasions, the first time at the Tiger 20 when Excelsior was faced with a third-and-12. Wes Simmons kept the drive alive when he pulled in a 36-yard pass from Brock Nessa.

"They were able to convert some long third downs and one time a long fourth down," said Gross. "You have to give them credit for that. I guess that's why they're state champions."

On the first play of the second quarter, the Tigers converted on a fourth-and-1 for a first down at the Jackson 33. On first down, Smith made a nifty catch, turning a full 360 degrees and pulling in a Nessa pass to the left sideline. Smith then raced down the sideline for a 12-0 lead with 11:26 left in the half.

"He's done that before," said Bonuchi. "He may have surprised you, but he didn't surprise me."

Smith finished with a team-high 89 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving. Nessa completed six of nine passes for 119 yards.

After the two touchdowns, Jackson held Excelsior to three first downs and 77 yards offense the remainder of the game.

"You can't spot a team 12 points and hope to come back for a victory in a game of this caliber," said defensive coordinator Van Hitt.

Excelsior took a 12-0 lead into halftime.

After punting on its opening possession of the second half and watching an Excelsior field-goal try sail wide, Jackson found the scoreboard.

Starting at their own 20, the Indians drove out to the 37. Brunke then provided the spark Jackson and its fans were looking for. He busted over the right side of the line, cut left and outraced two defenders before being tripped up and landing in the end zone. The point after failed, but Jackson had cut the lead to 12-6 with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

With Jackson fans howling with each play, the Indian defense forced three plays and a punt on the Tigers' next possession.

The Indians took over at their own 19 and Langford promptly ripped off his 60-yard run on first down. But instead of being at the Excelsior 20, the Indians were pushed back to their own 9 with a holding penalty on the play.

"I don't think there was any doubt in my mind, the team's mind and the crowd's mind that we were going to stuff the ball in the end zone that possession, and all of a sudden you have to make up 20 yards," said Gross.

Jackson ultimately punted and received two more offensive chances. The first possession ended on downs at the Tiger 45 and the game clock ran out on the latter.

"We moved the ball into their territory, we never quit and we kept playing hard," Gross said. "That's why we're 12-2."