Jackson to place Vikings on stage

Parkway North coach Bob Bunton is aware of the Jackson football tradition.

He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. In 1982, he worked at the Southeast Missourian and covered the Indians.

So he's ready for the intensity that comes along with thousands of loyal Jackson fans.

He just hopes his team is ready, too.

Jackson (4-0) will play its second home game of the season tonight, taking on the Parkway North Vikings at 7:30 p.m.

Parkway North is not accustomed to the high intensity, small-town atmosphere that the Indians generate at home games. Jackson had as many, if not more, fans than the Vikings at last year's game at Parkway North.

"We're trying to prepare for that," said Bunton, whose team is 2-2. "When we were there last year to scout, we put that crowd and the entire environment on film for our kids to see. The kids have not seen a crowd like that. The closest would have to be in the quarter finals against Riverview Gardens in 1998."

Unfortunately for Bunton, his Vikings will have a steeper challenge to face on the field.

Dominating early

Jackson, so far, appears to be a better team than it was last year when it went 9-1 and was state-ranked for most of the season.

The Indians have dominated teams from the opening kickoff, instead of wearing teams out in the second half like they did last year. And save for Jackson's sloppy win over Sikeston, Jackson coach Carl Gross has been pleased with his team. He only felt satisfied after one win last year, the Indians' victory over Dyersburg, Tenn.

"I tell you what, the difference is the line of scrimmage," Gross said. "That's where you put people down early. The great college teams like Tennessee and Florida put people away early because they dominate the line of scrimmage."

Gross said the team's abundance of depth is a major reason for the improvement. Because Jackson has so many quality athletes, few have to go both ways.

"We started out thinking we'd have to go both ways," Gross said. "But we found out we don't have to and what we can do is get the offensive line on the sideline, ask them what's going on, and make adjustments before halftime."

Those adjustments have been allowing more and bigger holes for standout Mario Whitney, who had his best game of the year, statistically, in the Indians' 41-20 victory over Graves County last week. Whitney ran for 255 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. So far this season, he's averaging 12.3 yards per carry. He has 655 yards and 14 touchdowns in limited playing time.

Because of Jackson's lopsided victories, Whitney has played approximately nine quarters this year.

Parkway North

The Vikings gave Jackson a stern test last year, but the Indians prevailed 28-14 despite playing one of their worst games of the season.

Parkway North, which beat Northwest House Springs and Seckman, but lost convincingly to U City and Eureka, looks to be down this year, with no returning skill-position players from last year's team.

Eric Gilley (5-11, 175) leads the Vikings with 386 yards on 74 carries, a 5.2 average. The Vikings' fullback, Mike Loveless, is only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. But tight end Mason Burks (6-2, 240) could be the team's most dangerous weapon.

What Parkway North counts on more than anything is its experienced offensive line.

"We've got a veteran line," Bunton said. "We only return four starters from last year and they're all on the line."

Bunton will need a great effort from that group to knock off the Indians as he said the gameplan going in will be to keep Jackson's offense off the field.

"We would like to control the football but that's easier said than done," Bunton said. "By now, we know and everybody in the state knows how explosive Whitney is."

Respect from Hatchell

Graves County coach Anthony Hatchell, whose team will play Cape Central this week, said Jackson was "I think, the best football team I've ever put a team up against. I've not put a team on the field as complete as Jackson was."

Hatchell, before going to Graves County three years ago, coached in the Lexington area and coached against some of the best programs in the state.

On Whitney, Hatchell said, "We've seen people as fast, but most kids with that speed hunt and peck for holes. He hits the hole faster than any running back I've ever seen."