Jackson football team improves to 2-0 with win over Vianney

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson's offense barreled over North County in Week 1.

Jackson's defense served as a barricade against Vianney and one of the premier high school running backs in the state of Missouri on Friday night in Week 2.

Markel Smith, who opened the season with 297 yards rushing in an opening win, unofficially mounted just one yard on 17 carries in a 43-14 loss to Jackson.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior, had an outstanding sophomore season for the Griffins with 1,498 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, and Smith's junior debut in Week 1 included five rushing touchdowns -- three for over 60 yards.

Smith showed his big-play ability early against Jackson. He took a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball, but that was all the damage he did against a swarming Indians defense. In addition to being stopped on the ground, he lost seven yards on his lone reception.

"We knew that he was a Mizzou recruit who rushed for almost 300 yards and a bunch of touchdowns last week," Jackson defensive back Brannon Wright said. "We talked about stopping him all week. He's a great back, and I am sure the conditions did not help him. But we did a good job of swarming to the ball and wrapping him up."

The Indians' offense was explosive at times Friday, but it was overshadowed by the defense.

The starting defensive unit shut out the Griffins. Vianney's only points came on Smith's kickoff return and on a touchdown against the reserves in the waning minutes.

"The defense played great tonight," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said. "The defensive coaches did a great job of preparing, and the guys just rose to the challenge. We pursued a lot better this week, and we tackled a lot better."

Vianney coach Mike Diffley did not use the sloppy field conditions, which were the result of a sometimes driving rain, as an excuse.

"It was not the weather that beat us tonight. It was a very good Jackson football team," Diffley said. "They outplayed us and outcoached us, and they just manhandled us on the line of scrimmage. Their linebackers were playing downhill all night, and we had a hard time getting any kind of rhythm or tempo going. Their penetration made it tough for us to go inside or outside."

Jackson opened the game with a seven-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown run by Colten Proffer. The lead was short-lived as Smith fumbled the ensuing kickoff, picked it up and zigged and zagged his way for 95 yards.

The Indians took advantage of two Vianney miscues in the second quarter. Jackson got the ball on the Vianney 21-yard line after a snap over the punter's head. It took seven plays and a third- and fourth-down conversion before junior quarterback Ty Selsor scored on a 1-yard run.

Vianney fumbled a snap from center on its next drive. Jackson recovered on the Griffin 28-yard line and scored on the next play when Selsor connected with Skyler Steele for a 28-yard touchdown.

The Jackson defense set the tempo for a dominating second half on Vianney's first possession after the intermission. Smith lost yardage on two runs, including one in the end zone for a safety.

Jackson's offense demonstrated its big-play ability later in the quarter when Selsor hit Wright for touchdown passes of 80 and 79 yards.

"I had one-on-one coverage on the first one, and Ty just made the perfect throw," Wright said. "On the second one, I caught a short pass, saw a hole, and ran with it."

Selsor completed 11 of 16 passes for 257 yards. The bulk of the yardage went to Wright, who had seven catches for 190 yards.

Dante Vandeven scored the final touchdown for the Indians on an 18-yard run on fourth down.

Proffer led the rushing attack with 14 carries for 64 yards. The Indians finished with 402 yards of total offense after posting more than 600 yards in Week 1.

Jackson, which won just two games last year, improved to 2-0 and will make its home debut Friday against Farmington.

Jackson 43, Vianney 14

Jackson 7 13 16 7 -- 43

Vianney 7 0 0 7 -- 14

First quarter

J -- Colten Proffer 9 run (Adam Brown kick), 9:28.

V -- Markel Smith 95 kickoff (Danny Reilly kick), 9:08.

Second quarter

J -- Ty Selsor 1 run (Brown kick), 3:13

J -- Skyler Steele 28 pass from Selsor (kick failed), 1:36.

Third quarter

J -- Safety, 10:19

J -- Brannon Wright 80 pass from Selsor (Brown kick), 7:32

J -- Wright 79 pass from Selsor (Brown kick), 1:46.

Fourth quarter

J -- Dante Vandeven 18 run (Brown kick), 7:53

V -- Nick Allgeyer 26 pass from Garrett Sinskewicz (Reilly kick), 3:11