Jackson senior named top football player in Southeast Missouri

~ Lang started on offense, defense and special teams for the Indians this season.

POPLAR BLUFF -- It wasn't just versatility that made Jackson senior Matt Lang the best football player in Southeast Missouri.

Versatility combined with excellence.

"He's one of those five-in-one guys," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "And everything he did, he did pretty dog-gone well."

Lang, who handled the kicking and punting while leading the area in interceptions and leading the Indians in receptions, on Wednesday was presented with the Carr Trophy as the best football player in Southeast Missouri.

Jackson senior Matt Lang was awarded the Carr Trophy during a ceremony Wednesday in Poplar Bluff. (Kit Doyle)

The award was the final honor announced at the Poplar Bluff Letter Club's 62nd annual Poplar Bluff Gridiron Banquet at the Poplar Bluff High School student center.

Lang was a unanimous selection for the award, which has been given out annually since 1979, but he said he was surprised by the honor.

Other top candidates likely included Jackson junior running back Adam Zweigart, the area's rushing leader and SEMO North scoring leader, and Hayti senior running back/linebacker Jerome Covington, the area's scoring leader.

"There's a lot of good athletes in the area, and it was a big surprise," Lang said. "I feel fortunate that I won it."

As a receiver, Lang led the run-oriented Indians in receiving with 22 catches for 433 yards and six touchdowns.

On the defensive side, the 6-foot, 180-pounder had 78 tackles along with his 11 interceptions.

He was first-team all-conference in the SEMO North on both offense and defense in addition to being the all-conference punter and kicker. No one associated with the awards could remember a four-time first-team all-conference honoree.

Lang's versatility helped Jackson post an 11-1 record, including a 4-0 conference mark. The Indians reached the Class 5 state semifinals before losing 25-14 to eventual state champion Waynesville.

The 10-0 regular-season mark -- which Lang said was the highlight of the year -- was a four-game improvement over last season.

It also included a flurry of plays by Lang in a 21-20 win against Eureka in Week 8 that propelled Jackson into the playoffs. In the closing minutes of the game, he blocked a decisive extra point, caught a 78-yard pass to set up a touchdown, kicked an extra point and intercepted a pass on Eureka's final drive.

He didn't expect to have that much of an impact this season.

"I knew there were some spots that needed to be filled," Lang said, "and I thought I had a chance to help out coach a little bit."

Gross remembered a point in practice early in the season when Lang had secured his spots as a punter, kicker, punt returner, receiver and defensive back.

"He was on the kick return team, too, and we realized he needed to at least be able to get an opportunity to get a drink of water," Gross said. "He would've been a good kick returner, but we felt he needed to be able to get a blow. When we told him we were taking him out, he thought we were mad at him.

"He's a great practice player and he's always positive in the locker room and with his teammates. He's one of those coach's dreams."

Gross, who often joked during the season that Lang would do the team's laundry if asked, had a few of those kinds of players this year.

Zweigart was honored as the SEMO North's top scorer with 108 points -- all on his 18 touchdowns. (Lang had 89 points with seven TDs, a field goal and 42 extra-point kicks.)

The top offensive lineman award was given to Jackson senior Adam Collier, a senior nose tackle who had three fumble recoveries and finished with 62 tackles. Collier played through the end of the season with a shoulder injury.

"He's cobra quick and strong as a bull," Gross said, "and that's a pretty good combination. He did his speaking with his actions."

Gross also was honored as the SEMO North coach of the year and the Indians grabbed the trophy as the division champions.

Lang was the first Carr Trophy winner from Jackson since Mario Whitney won in 2001. Jackson also had three straight winners from 1995 to 1997 and has the most winners, now with six.

"I think we're all happy for one another no matter what award gets awarded to who," Lang said. "We're a very unselfish team. I think we're just glad it came to Jackson."