JACKSON TO TEST RETOOLED SQUAD

Jackson knows Sikeston well enough. The Bulldogs are on the schedule every year.

What Jackson would like to know now is: What about Jackson?

After an 11-1 1997 season, the Indians graduated all but four players with substantial varsity experience. They are taking an introspective approach to their first game of the 1998 season tonight against Sikeston. The game begins at 7:30 at Jackson.

"To be really honest, we've spent our practice time worrying about the Indians, not the Bulldogs," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "We're hoping some of these early games will help us establish a pecking order."

Last week's Jamboree resolved several of the Indians' battles for starting positions.

At quarterback, where four players were in the hunt for the job, junior Chris Freeman emerged as the starter. Kelly McElrath, a senior, will also see time tonight.

Todd Wessel, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior running back promises to be the centerpiece of the rebuilt offense.

"We'll be similar (to last season)," Gross said. "We're running the double wing. We'll go off tackle more than anything else."

Wessel also will be an important contributor on defense, along with senior defensive tackle Nick Lohman, senior free safety Andy Callis and junior cornerback Tory Meyr.

Sikeston, 3-6 last year, returns key starters on both sides of the ball, but has a lack of depth (only 34 players on the team) and injury problems. Quarterback Mark Silverthorn is out with a hand injury.

John Brown is the tailback in Sikeston's I-formation, and he runs behind an experienced offensive line. Brown fills in for junior tailback Justin Robinson, who gained 600 yards last year. Robinson will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension.

The Bulldogs will try to avenge a 34-0 defeat at the hands of Jackson last year, one of the most lopsided games in a series which has been nearly even through the years.

For the last two seasons, Sikeston and Jackson played late in the season in Missouri Class 5A districts. Sikeston has dropped in enrollment to Class 4A this year.

"You can't put all your eggs in one basket (in the first game of the season)," Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery said. "It's not as important a game as it used to be."

Sikeston is taking an approach similar to Jackson's for Friday's opener.

"They dominated most teams they played last year, so you can't really think about that," Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery said. "They're going to be defensively very fundamental and they'll have a sound, good running game. We just have to look at what we can do."

TONIGHT'S PREP FOOTBALL

Columbia Hickman at Cape Central

Sikeston at Jackson

Malden at Scott City

Chaffee at Grandview

Farmington at Perryville

Carlyle, Ill. at St. Vincent

Kennett at Charleston

Park Hills at Fredericktown

Poplar Bluff at Dexter

East Prairie at Hayti

Portageville at Gosnell, Ark.

New Madrid at Rosary

Caruthersville at Greene Co., Ark.

Herrin at Anna-Jonesboro

Cairo at Elverado