JACKSON WALTZES PAST BEAUMONT VIA 49-6 ROUT

JACKSON -- Mario Whitney and Tory Meyr were touchdowns just waiting to happen.

And Jackson's third and fourth stringers were players just waiting to go in.

Whitney and Meyr combined for five touchdowns and Jackson coach Carl Gross started to empty his bench before halftime as the Indians (4-1) rolled over Beaumont (0-5) 49-6 Friday night.

Whitney touched the ball just three times on offense and had touchdown runs of four and seven yards. He also returned an interception back about 37 yards for his third touchdown of the night and his 10th of the season.

Meyr touched the ball just five times on offense and scored 14 points. He caught three passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran the ball twice, once on an 8-yard reverse and scored a two-point conversion on another reverse. Meyr also intercepted a pass. Meyr now has six touchdowns and three two-point conversions this year.

"We had some guys make some really nice plays," Gross said.

John Jackson, a junior making his first varsity start for the injured Chris Stockton, hit Meyr in stride on an out-and-up pattern for a 58-yard strike. Jackson completed two of four passes for 69 yards.

It was evident from the beginning that Jackson was the superior team Friday night.

Beaumont's bizarre offensive formation -- with the center and guard in their normal positions and three players spread wide on each side of the field -- didn't fool Jackson much.

Beaumont didn't get a first down until the fourth quarter and that was on a shifty quarterback scramble.

Jackson held the Blue Jackets to just 23 yards of total offense in the first half and just 66 yards for the game. In addition, Jackson intercepted three passes, including a pick by sophomore linebacker Seth Harrell who returned it 28 yards to the Beaumont 7.

An early muffed Beaumont punt eventually led to Whitney's 4-yard touchdown run.

After Jackson marched the ball 47 yards on its next possession, Beaumont scored on a very bizarre play.

Josh Hopkins' field-goal attempt was blocked and for a couple of seconds everyone stood motionless. After a brief moment, Kenneth Chambers simply ran 92 yards for a touchdowns.

"I didn't remind them that they had to cover up a blocked kick," Gross said. "I'll take the blame for that one."

After that, Jackson rolled.

Meyr's 58-yard reception made it 14-6 and Whitney's 7-yard touchdown run -- which came the first play after Harrell's interception -- pushed it to 21-6 with 5:56 left in the second quarter.

Two plays later, Whitney's interception made it 28-6 and at that point Gross began calling off the dogs and he was able to rest some of his players who have had nagging injuries.

Meyr's second TD catch -- this one an 11-yard strike from sophomore quarterback Bryan Austin -- pushed the total to 35-6 before halftime.