Jackson shoots for 7-0 start

The Jackson Indians have been far superior to every opponent they've played this season.

This week appears to be no different.

The Indians travel to Hillsboro today for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Hawks are 3-3, but are coming off their most impressive victory of the season, a 40-0 rout of Perryville.

Hillsboro, a Class 4A school, fell to Farmington 25-15 the week before.

"Bottom line, this is a game to prepare for district," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "We've gotten better every week and we want to get better this week."

Jackson (6-0) is ranked seventh in Class 5A and has simply dominated every team it has played. The Indians defeated a motivated Cape Central squad 33-0 at Houck Stadium last week.

"This bunch is really fun to coach," said Gross. "They remind me of my 94, 95 and 97 bunch. I don't know how good we are, but I know the chemistry on this team is wonderful. They all come to practice with a smile on their face, but when it's time to go to work, these guys get after it. When it's time for running and conditioning, they're out there racing each other and busting their hind end.

"If I had to be stranded on an island with a bunch of guys, these guys would be it."

Led by the state's most recruited running back, Mario Whitney, the Indians have outscored their opponents 248-49, for an average score of 41-8.

Whitney, who has made an oral commitment to play football for the University of Missouri, is by far Southeast Missouri's leading rusher with 1,304 yards and 23 touchdowns. The next closest running back has 986 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Whitney has had a lot of help from his offensive line.

Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins was impressed with Jackson's unit up front last Friday.

"Before we played them, I thought they were decent," said Brookins. "But they earned a better distinction than that. It's not so much their point of attack, but their off-side blockers walled off on the back side and gave Mario a chance to cut back. They worked hard at that. They're a good group and not just because of their size."

Jackson ripped Hillsboro 42-0 last year, but the game wasn't as lopsided as the score indicated.

"If you remember last year, we couldn't run against them," Gross said. "Ray Goodson had a good game with over 100 yards receiving and Pat McComas had a long catch for a touchdown, but I don't know if we gained an inch on them running the ball. We had a chance to watch some film of last year's game and we were embarrassed with the way we blocked and tackled."