JHS district hopes vanish

~ The Indians fell to 0-2 in disrict play with a 24-10 loss to Eureka.

The Jackson football team played its most inspired defensive game of the season at home Friday on senior night against Eureka.

But the Indians (5-4) could not overcome six turnovers -- with two fumbles returned for scores -- and fell to 0-2 in Class 5 District 1 play with a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats.

"This is as good a defensive performance as we've had since I've been here," said Jackson coach Carl Gross, who is in his 17th season as Indians head coach. "You could see that 'til the end."

Eureka (7-2, 2-0 district) entered the game with more than 2,000 yards rushing as a team, but right from the start the Wildcats showed Jackson's run defense a great deal of respect. In the opening quarter, Eureka rushed the ball just five times and passed seven times, and through the half the pass-to-rush ratio was 19-15.

"We forced them to pass the ball," Gross said. "If they don't get 7-yard chunks [running], they panic."

The turning point in the game came on a Jackson punt block late in the half with the scored tied at 7-7. John Gray and Austin Leimer were able to break through the line and block the Eureka punt, putting Jackson on Eureka's 17.

Jackson quarterback Rex Meyr attempted to run a keeper to the outside on a third-and-4 but injured his shoulder after a minimal gain. The Indians got a 27-yard field goal from Grant Ressel to grab the lead, but lost Meyr for the rest of the game.

"I thought we had a play called we could get a first down on," Gross said. "Then Rex gets his shoulder hurt on that play."

Eureka drove down the field in the final 2 minutes and got a 33-yard field goal from Mike Bigogno to tie the score at 10-10 heading into the half.

Things turned south for the Indians in a hurry in the second half.

On the opening drive, backup quarterback Alex Austin was sacked and fumbled near the goal line, and Eureka returned the fumble for a score to go up 17-10 less than a minute into the third quarter.

"Offensively, poor Alex got thrown in there -- he doesn't get many reps in practice -- and he had to jump in and try to answer the bell," Gross said.

Added Eureka coach Farrell Shelton: "It was a shame. Meyr, he leads that team so well. You hate that to happen."

The final nail in Jackson's coffin came on a controversial call from the officials. Jackson had the ball around its own 25 when Austin went back to pass. Eureka got a good rush on Austin and made contact with his arm as he went to pass. Austin appeared to be coming forward with the ball in his hand to attempt a pass, but the ball was ruled a fumble and returned for a score.

Gross would not put the Indians' loss on one call, but said he did not think it was a fumble.

"I thought they thought he intercepted it, because the ball was going forward and his arm was going forward," Gross said.

Austin finished 2-for-13 for 40 yards with three interceptions and two fumbles. Meyr was 3-for-8 before coming out. Jackson's senior running back Joel Penrod was limited to 57 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.

Eureka's leading rusher, Sam Johnson, finished with just 63 yards rushing on 23 carries. Johnson accounted for Eureka's lone offensive touchdown. Eureka quarterback Brett Allen finished 12-for-23 passing for 110 yards and one interception.

"Defensively, our coaches had a great game plan," Gross said. "Our kids flew around and stroked them."

---

EUREKA 24, JACKSON 10

Eureka 0 10 7 7 -- 24

Jackson 7 3 0 0 -- 10

First Quarter

J -- Joel Penrod 10-yard run (Grant Ressel kick)

Second Quarter

E -- Sam Johnson 2-yard run (Mike Bigogno kick)

J -- Ressel 27-yard fiel goal

E -- Bigogno 33-yard field goal

Third Quarter

E -- Ben Johnson 5-yard fumble recovery (Bigogno kick)

Fourth Quarter

E -- Mike Nowicki 25-yard fumble recovery (Bigogno kick)

Eureka Jackson

First downs 13 7

Rushes-yards 39-138 33-72

Passing yards 110 84

Passes 12-23-1 5-22-4

Punts 6-33.5 6-35.2

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties-Yards 5-40 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Eureka, Sam Johnson 23-63, Mike Nowicki 3-25, Brett Allen 9-49, Mike Hasenmueller 3-8, Alex Smith 1-(-4); Jackson, Joel Penrod 19-57, Rex Meyr 5-(-4), Alex Austin 6-7, Josh Wheeler 3-12

PASSING -- Eureka, Allen 12-23-1-110; Jackson, Meyr 3-8-0-44, Austin 2-13-3-40, Penrod 0-1-1-0

RECEIVING -- Eureka, Alex Mohrmann 4-39, Scott Sorensen 2-22, Nathan Souder 4-33, Nick Foege 1-8; Jackson, Austin Leimer 3-52, Jordan Sneathen 2-32