Jackson takes aim at another division crown

The Indians host Poplar Bluff on Friday in their SEMO North finale.

With the district schedule just one week away, Jackson's football team will try to take care of its first goal of a conference championship Friday when it hosts Poplar Bluff in a SEMO North Division battle.

Jackson, 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, will bid for its second straight conference title.

"For us, it's our last game. Like I told my kids, it's a conference championship this week," Indians coach Carl Gross said. "If we win it, we're conference champs. If we don't, we have to count on someone beating Poplar Bluff. They know it, and hopefully we come out and play well."

The Indians' dominance within the conference this season has been pronounced. Jackson has outscored its first two SEMO North opponents 86-0 and has held each of its conference opponents to less than 100 yards of offense.

On the horizon is a road game at Rockwood Summit to start district play before a home game with Eureka, the No. 5 team in the Class 5 state poll.

"You worry about it," Gross said of his team looking past the Mules. "I know our kids know we have Rockwood Summit and Eureka coming up. I worry about the fact we've played better on the road than at home. There's always something for me to worry about."

Despite suffering a few injuries during their rout of rival Central, the Indians are carrying momentum into their conference finale. Jackson has won three straight games -- all on the road -- and four of five since a season-opening loss.

A four-game winning streak would be a good way to enter the district portion for the Indians. Jackson finished 1-2 in the district last season.

"We feel like we have a little momentum," Gross said. "I'd like to think we'll come out and take care of business and keep our momentum on our side. That's important."

Poplar Bluff has some momentum as well, considering it's 1-5. The Mules started the season with four straight losses -- allowing 40 or more points against Forrest City (Ark.), Blythevile (Ark.), Jonesboro (Ark.) and Jefferson City.

"I'd like to see anyone have a tougher go than that," Gross said.

Poplar Bluff got in the win column in Week 5, sneaking past Dexter 27-20. Last week the Mules held Farmington, the third-ranked team in the state Class 4 poll, to just 14 points in a 14-0 loss.

"Every week, there's a different challenge," Gross said. "Poplar Bluff notoriously has played good football against us. Friday night, they played exceptionally well defensively.

"We're going to have our hands full."

Poplar Bluff has a formidable passing attack, despite a poor performance against Farmington. Mules quarterback Asa Wyatt has thrown for nearly 938 yards this season with eight touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

In losses to Vianney and Hillcrest (Miss.), Jackson's defense was torched for big yards in the air. With improved play from its defensive backs and pass rush, Jackson has done a better job lately against the passing game. Against rival Central, which had averaged more than 160 yards passing a game, Jackson limited the Tigers to just 65 yards in the air.

"A couple of ball games early in the year, our Achilles' heel was our pass defense, but we feel like we've improved in that area," Gross said.

On offense, the Indians have limited mistakes after turning the ball over 11 times in their two defeats in the first three weeks of the season.

Jackson has been able to pound the ball on the ground against its opponents -- a trademark of the Indians -- while mixing in the pass for positive yards. Senior tailback Joel Penrod has rushed for 100 yards in three games this season and just missed the mark in another game after sitting out the final quarter of a blowout.

"Part of what we did is made our playbook smaller, not try to do as much as we were," Gross said. "You play a few ballgames and you figure out what you do well and what you don't do well.

"I've said it for a 100 years at Jackson, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to play Jackson football, but you have to be tough and disciplined."