JACKSON, FARMINGTON SET FOR CRUCIAL DISTRICT GAME

At this point, Farmington just may pull out all the stops.

That's exactly what the Jackson football team is prepared for.

The teams meet at 7:30 tonight in Farmington in a Class 4A District 1 game.

"Farmington runs a lot of different formations and sets offensively, and those are things we'll have to adjust to," said Jackson coach Carl Gross, whose team won 22-15 last Friday against North County.

"A team that uses so many different formations probably has more up its sleeve. This week we've tried to practice against as many of those as we can. We'll have to learn to recognize them and be ready for each one."

Farmington (6-2 overall, 1-0 in the district) has won five of its last six games, owing a 28-21 loss to Ste. Genevieve in Week 7. Jackson (6-2, 1-0) has won three straight after back-to-back losses.

A Jackson win could all but clinch the team's second straight district championship; Potosi (1-7) awaits next Thursday.

But that's not to say Farmington isn't in the running.

"We're playing really well right now," Farmington coach Mike Thebeau said. "The last couple of games have been pretty good.

"We started the season with just one returning tackle on offense. That was the only returning starter we had on offense. But these kids have worked hard together as a team and they've played hard. We've had some really good luck this year."

Clint Thebeau has terrorized Farmington opponents, throwing for almost 1,500 yards on a 53 percent completion ratio. The team's leading rusher, Eric Blue, has just under 500 yards.

It's no secret Farmington's biggest guns are in the air.

"It's a challenge to play a team that throws it so much," Gross said, "but we expected Cape Central to throw a lot, and we were fairly successful. North County threw the ball a lot during the season, too, but their passing game never really hurt us last week.

"What could hurt us is a rain or a wet field where we couldn't really get good footing. Their receivers would know where they were going, but we wouldn't."

Three straight wins have helped Jackson's defense lower its average yield. The team gives up just 12 points per game. Only two opponents this season have managed to score more than two touchdowns against the team's defense.

"Jackson's defense is solid," Thebeau said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes."

Jackson found success on the ground and in its passing game Friday; Mike Gross was 5-of-7 for 89 yards, while tailback Glen Brunke ran for 139 yards on 39 carries.

Jackson vs. Farmington

7:30 p.m. at Farmington

* COACHES: Jackson's Carl Gross, seventh year (43-30 here); Farmington's Mike Thebeau, third year (16-12 here).

* LAST WEEK: Jackson (6-2) def. North County 22-15; Farmington (6-2) def. Potosi 28-6.

* LAST YEAR: Jackson, 36-8.

* THE SERIES: Jackson leads 20-7-1.

* KEY PLAYERS: Jackson's Glen Brunke (TB), Nathan Norman (FB); Farmington's Clint Thebeau (QB), Eric Blue (RB).

* NOTEWORTHY: Farmington's solid start has come as a surprise to its coach, whose team knocked off Cape Central in the season opener. Only Ste. Genevieve and Valle have gotten the best of the Knights, but over the 10-week season, Farmington sees few teams of Jackson's caliber.