Jackson football team rebounds by routing Knights

The Jackson football team had no trouble bouncing back from its first loss.

Jackson opened SEMO Northern Conference play Friday night by routing host Farmington 38-7 in its road opener.

The Indians, coming off last week's 52-27 defeat at the hands of state-ranked Vianney, improved to 2-1. The Knights fell to 1-2.

Jackson routed Farmington behind an opportunistic offense and a stingy defense that kept the Knights bottled up all night.

"Defensively I think we played well," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said. "Offensively I don't think we played particularly well. In spurts we did some good things."

Junior quarterback Dante Vandeven scored three first-half touchdowns -- on runs of 3, 2 and 12 yards -- as the Indians built a 31-0 lead at the break.

The Indians' defense opened the scoring when that unit dropped a Farmington ball carrier in the zone for a safety to make it 2-0.

Jackson went up 9-0 later in the opening period when Vandeven scored from 3 yards out and junior Ty Crowden booted the PAT.

The Indians broke the game wide open with three second-quarter touchdowns, including two during a 29-second span in the final minute of the half.

Senior running back Garrett Miller broke loose for an 85-yard touchdown and senior Taylor Henson picked up a botched snap on the PAT to run for the two-point conversion as Jackson went ahead 17-0.

Jackson forced a Farmington punt with just over two minutes left and scored on Vandeven's 2-yard run with 48 seconds remaining. Crowden's PAT made it 24-0.

The Indians then recovered an onside kick at midfield. Vandeven's 12-yard burst with 19 seconds left, followed by Crowden's PAT, opened up a 31-0 halftime bulge.

Jackson enacted the running clock early in the third quarter, scoring after taking the opening kickoff. Vandeven hit junior wide out Xominique Davis from 3 yards out with 9:17 left and Crowden's PAT made it 38-0.

Farmington avoided the shutout with just 2:06 to play after recovering a fumbled punt by Jackson. Quarterback Justin Boehm scored on a 7-yard run.

Jackson had a 486-165 advantage in total yardage, including 316-49 during the opening half. The Indians rushed for 331 yards, 243 in the first half.

Miller and Vandeven each went over 100 yards rushing for the second time in three games.

Miller, who saw limited action against Vianney after receiving a hard shot in the back, made his presence felt early Friday while again seeing limited action.

Miller, who led Jackson in tackles last year from his linebacker spot, rushed for 100 first-half yards on just three carries. He finished with 106 yards on five attempts.

Vandeven had 127 yards on 16 attempts. He rushed for 85 yards in the opening half. He also completed 13 of 26 passes for 153 yards before taking the fourth quarter off.

Davis caught seven passes for 63 yards and added 47 yards rushing on five attempts.

Jackson 9 22 7 0 -- 38

Farmington 0 0 0 7 -- 7

First Quarter

J -- Safety, Farmington runner tackled in end zone

J -- Dante Vandeven 3 run (Ty Crowden kick)

Second Quarter

J -- Garrett Miller 85 run (Taylor Henson run)

J -- Vandeven 2 run (Crowden kick)

J -- Vandeven 12 run (Crowden kick)

Third Quarter

J -- Xominique Davis 3 pass from Vandeven (Crowden kick)

Fourth Quarter

F -- Justin Boehm 7 run (kick good)

J F

First downs 14 8

Rushes-yards 34-331 34-96

Passing yards 153 69

Passes 13-27-1 9-15-0

Punts 1-26 na

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-Yards 5-50 1-5

JACKSON INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING -- Vandeven 16-127, Miller 5-106, Davis 5-47.

PASSING -- Vandeven 13-26-1-153.

RECEIVING -- Davis 7-63, Taylor Henson 2-40, Lashone Dean 1-27.