Jackson puts 10-0 mark on the line

Rockwood Summit has been in this underdog situation before.

Last time the Falcons won a district championship.

This time, the task will be more challenging as the Falcons (5-5) travel to Jackson Stadium tonight for a 7 p.m. Class 5A sectional game against the Indians (10-0)

By comparing scores, Jackson, ranked fifth in the state, should be a huge favorite.

Summit lost 10-3 to Hillsboro. Jackson could've beat Hillsboro by 70 had coach Carl Gross not called off the dogs.

Summit lost to Parkway North 14-9. Jackson's Mario Whitney broke a state record of 463 yards against Parkway North as the Indians won 56-22.

Based on that, Jackson should crush Summit.

But Parkway South learned the hard way that Summit shouldn't be overlooked. South defeated Jefferson City earlier this year and was heavily favored to win District 2.

Instead, Summit's 17-7 victory over Parkway South was arguably the biggest surprise in district play this year.

The Falcons followed that surprise victory with a 49-0 win over Seckman and a 30-17 win over Northwest.

Suddenly, Summit is 5-5.

"They got off to a real slow start this season," Gross said. "But they made some personnel changes which emphasized speed more than size on defense and they're really coming on."

Gross said Summit features a balanced attack.

The Falcons have thrown for about 630 yards this season and rushed for almost 2,000.

Their top running back is Jason Fone, who has rushed for 973 yards on 167 carries, a 5.8 average. They have six players who have rushed the ball at least 15 times.

On defense, the Falcons run some unconventional stunts on the defensive line and they have two impressive linebackers, Scott Provaznik and Tony Corpuz.

Keeping focused

Gross said he was a bit worried about his team having a letdown following Friday night's 34-28 victory over Poplar Bluff.

It was a game Jackson had been looking to since the season ended last year.

"We talked about that," Gross said. "We're coming off a big emotional game. But we enjoyed it one night and we were back practicing Saturday and Sunday. This ballgame is big and we get to play at home so we're excited. And I'm not ready to let these seniors go yet."

Said sophomore defensive lineman Tyler McNeely, who has come up with some big plays this season, "I think we'll be ready. We're going to have to play a complete game. I don't think we've really played a complete game all year."

Closer to a record

After Whitney's five touchdowns Friday night, he has 41 touchdowns and is only six shy of the Missouri single-season record of 47 held by Dan Kneeshaw of Branson in 1989. Kneeshaw needed 14 games to accomplish the feat, but if Whitney gets his average of four this week and if Jackson wins tonight, it's quite possible Whitney could get there in 12 games.

Whitney is currently third, behind Kneeshaw and Brad Hocker of Archie, who scored 44 in 1989.

Jackson product Devree Flint scored 30 for Jackson in 12 games in 1997 and is tied for 11th on the all-time list.

Whitney is also rising up the all-time single-season yards list. Whitney has 2,313 yards on 211 carries and ranks 11th. The record is 3,094 yards by Hocker.