Jackson's running back kept the offense moving

~ Adam Zweigart is the Southeast Missourian Player of the Year.

Jackson's Adam Zweigart knew he had worked hard lifting weights, running track and doing all he could to get his body in shape during the offseason in preparation for the 2007 football season.

But he was not sure what his role would be with the Indians.

Jackson coach Carl Gross had tried him out some at both wide receiver and running back during the summer and in the preseason, and Zweigart was having doubts over whether he would receive much action at either of those positions.

Zweigart soon learned he could be a force offensively at the varsity level as the Jackson junior quickly became the Indians' top offensive threat. He is this year's Southeast Missourian Player of the Year.

Jackson's Adam Zweigart rushed for 17 touchdowns this season. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

"I didn't think I was going to start, and I didn't think I was going to get much playing time," Zweigart said. "It just kind of worked out. The first game against Francis Howell, I had 142 yards [rushing] or something like that. They [coaches] asked me the next day in practice if I wanted to start. It kind of shocked me that they would ask me. It was just one game. I didn't expect to [become] the first-string running back."

Zweigart continued to prove himself more and more each week, putting together an impressive season.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound tailback led all of Southeast Missouri with 1,751 yards rushing on 215 carries. He averaged 8.14 yards per carry and 145.9 yards per game. He also scored 17 touchdowns.

Zweigart's contributions to the Jackson offense is a main reason why the Indians remained undefeated in the regular season and advanced to a Class 5 state semifinal game against Waynesville, the team that ended the Indians' perfect run with a 25-14 win.

"He's a real good, athletic runner and he can read well and he can kind of visualize what's going to happen," Jackson senior offensive lineman Brian Hill said about Zweigart. "Whenever I pulled or lead blocked for him, he would just kind of get behind me. He'd just kind of hold onto my shirt, and he went left, and I broke off right, and he'd just take off sprinting."

A fine season

Zweigart had a number of dominant games, but probably the two most eye-popping performances came against Sikeston and Seckman.

He dashed for 153 yards and three touchdowns in his first three offensive series against Sikeston. His rushing average was a robust 21.8 per carry that game.

He rushed six times for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Seckman for a rushing average of 26 yards per carry.

"Jackson has always been a run first, pass second team," Indians wide receiver Matt Lang said. It's nice "when you've got linemen like Brian and Ethan O'Connell, and then you've got running backs like Adam, who's got great vision like he has, and he can run and just juke and jive. And then when he gets in trouble, they usually rely on us a little bit. That's usually where we come in, but it's usually [the running game] that do most of it."

Zweigart's single-game rushing high was 213 yards against Vianney. He carried the ball 27 times in that game.

The junior also had nice performances in district games against Eureka and Parkway West. Both victories clinched Jackson's first playoff appearance since 2001.

He had 108 yards on 26 carries against Eureka and 119 yards rushing on 25 carries against Parkway West. He also scored a touchdown in each game.

Increase his size

Zweigart said he would rather be a quick, sharp running back who can dart around opposing tacklers than a power back.

Still, the 170-pound junior said he will work this offseason in the weight room to increase his size.

"He needs to hit the weight room, get a little bigger, so he can run some people over instead of just trying to avoid them," Hill said. "He'll be all right."

In the semifinal game against Waynesville, it was clear that Zweigart was hurting physically. He was taken out of the game on two third down-and-short situations inside the red zone during the second half. Jackson failed to score on both drives.

"They were a rough team," Zweigart said. "Every time I would carry the ball, they would hit me, and I would just lose my breath. And I would go out for a play or two.

"I need to get bigger. I would like to be about 180 and 185 or somewhere around there, but I just really don't gain weight."

Zweigart plans to run track again this spring to help his speed and stamina. He said he will also spend a good amount of time in the weight room again.

He has approximately eight and a half months to prepare for his senior year, and he already has some lofty goals.

"I want to pass 2,000 yards rushing, and I just want our team to do good -- that's all I care about," Zweigart said. "I want to actually go to the championship and win it."

Below is the entire roster, with links to each player's page.

QB -- Chase Johnson, Central

RB -- Adam Zweigart, Jackson

RB -- Kris Cottner, Perryville

RB -- Cantrell Andrews, Central

WR -- Matt Lang, Jackson

WR/RB -- Jerrod Steger, Chaffee

TE -- Tyler McNabb, Central

OL -- John Pinkston, Scott City

OL -- Brian Hill, Jackson

OL -- Ethan O'Connell, Jackson

OL -- Walker Rice, Chaffee

OL -- Ray Bucher, Jackson

LB -- Waylon Sparkman, Perryville

LB -- Cole Rodgers, Jackson

LB -- Cody Carlyle, Scott City

LB -- Blake Peiffer, Jackson

LB -- Drew Bucher, Jackson

LB -- Michael Spies, Chaffee

LB -- Dylan McAlister, Chaffee

DL -- Adam Collier, Jackson

DL -- Quent Robinson, St. Vincent

DL -- Kevin Pridemore, Jackson

DB -- Jamie Schumacher, Jackson

DB -- Justin L'Hote, St. Vincent