Offense propels Jackson football team to win

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Jackson's offense had the kind of explosion not seen during last year's 1-9 disappointment.

The visiting Indians needed nearly all of it to subdue upstart O'Fallon Christian 50-36 in Saturday's season opener.

Class 5 Jackson led most of the way but never could shake the Class 2 Eagles, who were playing the first varsity football game in program history.

"It was nuts," Jackson senior quarterback Bobby Clark said of the wild shootout. "I didn't expect that kind of game."

The teams combined for 48 second-half points and each squad scored touchdowns on three straight possessions during one stretch.

On a hot, muggy afternoon, the overflow crowd saw Jackson's balanced offense pile up 467 yards and O'Fallon Christian's pass-heavy, spread attack record 469 yards.

"We ran the ball well and we moved the ball well," Jackson coach Van Hitt said. "That was encouraging."

Especially after the dismal 2009 season, which began with nine straight losses. Jackson scored just 85 points all year, never putting up more than 20.

"It was a good sign," Clark said of Saturday's offensive performance.

Jackson's offense was led by Clark and senior tailback Ethan Ruch, with a big boost from the Indians' front line.

Ruch rushed for 172 yards on 24 carries and scored four of Jackson's six touchdowns, including a 51-yarder.

"The offensive line did great," Ruch said. "They were opening up lanes and they didn't wear out even though it was so hot.

"Our offense didn't wear out. The heat didn't bother us. We stayed strong."

Clark completed 12 of 15 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, covering 67 yards to sophomore Logan Wren. He also tossed a pair of 2-point conversions.

Clark also rushed for 40 yards on eight attempts and scored the touchdown, from a yard out with 1:08 remaining, that finally put away the Eagles.

"I don't think we played real well the first half, but we played really well the second half," Clark said of Jackson's offense. "We got clicking."

Said Hitt: "I thought Bobby Clark had a really good day. He kept his poise."

O'Fallon Christian's offense was spearheaded by junior quarterback Brendan Norwine, who completed 30 of 56 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns. Thirteen of Norwine's completions went to senior Robby Wilkinson, who piled up 146 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Norwine also ran for a touchdown and kicked a field goal.

Jackson junior linebacker Kyle Fields said the Indians were prepared for O'Fallon Christian's attack but it still was effective.

"We practiced all week on passing," Fields said. "We didn't do as good on coverage as we wanted."

Hitt said the type of offense Jackson saw Saturday is not easy to defend and he gave the Eagles, 6-2 on the JV level last year, credit.

"That team will do well," Hitt said. "You could tell it's not the first time they've picked up a football."

Jackson scored on its first offensive possession to lead 7-0 but fell behind 9-7 in the second quarter.

Ruch's 51-yard touchdown run with 6:05 left before halftime put the Indians back up 14-9 and Jackson never relinquished the advantage.

But this was far from a routine victory.

Jackson, ahead 22-16 at halftime, widened the margin to a pair of touchdowns three times in the second half.

All three times the Eagles immediately answered with touchdowns of their own.

"They kept scoring and we had to answer," Hitt said. "We had a lot of pressure plays."

Two of the pressure plays came after the Eagles had pulled to within six points and Jackson faced third-and-long on its ensuing possessions.

On third-and-7, Clark hit sophomore Nick Cooper for a 47-yard completion that led to Ruch's final touchdown, a 14-yarder that made it 35-22.

On third-and-17, Clark and senior Chris Poyner hooked up on a 20-yard completion that led to sophomore Wolf Knickerbocker's 43-yard touchdown run. Jackson went up 43-29 with 9:10 left.

"Those were two really big plays on third down," Hitt said.

The Eagles wouldn't go away, pulling to within 43-36 on a touchdown with 5:37 remaining.

Jackson then bled more than four minutes off the clock on a clinching 58-yard drive that ended with Clark's 1-yard plunge at the 1:08 mark.

"It's a win. Our kids were excited," Hitt said. "Our kids played hard and so did their kids."

Jackson's special teams were strong.

Junior Brandon Wills boomed three kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and consistently pinned the Eagles deep.

Sophomore Adam Brown kicked four of five extra points -- he displayed a strong leg that should give Jackson a shot at several field goals -- and Clark got off punts of 58 and 37 yards.

"We had a lot of bright spots, but we have to get a lot of things fixed," said Hitt, whose team opens its home schedule Friday night against a strong Parkway South squad. "It's easier to get things fixed after a win."

Jackson 7 15 13 15 -- 50

O'Fallon Christian 6 10 6 14 -- 36

First Quarter

J -- Ethan Ruch 1 run (Adam Brown kick), 7:00

OC -- Lance Lehmann 4 pass from Brendan Norwine (kick blocked), 3:36

Second Quarter

OC -- Norwine 28 FG, 7:45

J -- Ruch 51 run (Brown kick), 6:05

J -- Ruch 10 run (Austin Gonzaque pass from Bobby Clark), 2:59

OC -- Robby Wilkinson 6 pass from Norwine (Norwine kick), 0:45

Third Quarter

J -- Logan Wren 67 pass from Clark (kick failed), 11:15

OC -- Wilkinson 3 pass from Norwine (pass failed), 2:58

J -- Ruch 14 run (Brown kick), 0:50

Fourth Quarter

OC -- Wilkinson 5 pass from Norwine (Norwine kick), 11:46

J -- Wolf Knickerbocker 43 run (Chris Poyner pass from Clark), 9:10

OC -- Norwine 7 run (Norwine kick), 5:37

J -- Clark 1 run (Brown kick), 1:08

J OC

First downs 18 20

Rushes-yards 39-263 22-102

Passing yards 204 367

Passes 12-15-1 30-56-2

Punts 2-44.4 4-34

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-0

Penalties-Yards 7-60 5-57

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Jackson, Ruch 24-172, Knickerbocker 3-48, Clark 8-40, Wren 2-3, Trent Sizemore 2-0. O'Fallon Christian, Norwine 13-66, Logan Logsdon 5-31, Frank Davis 2-3, Deantrell Prince 1-1, Stephen Hedlund 1-1

PASSING -- Jackson, Clark 12-15-1-204. O'Fallon Christian, Norwine 30-56-2-367.

RECEIVING -- Jackson, Wren 3-90, Poyner 3-36, Sizemore 2-21, Ruch 2-15, Nick Cooper 1-47, Brandon Duffy 1-minus 5. O'Fallon Christian, Wilkinson 13-146, Corey Light 6-79, Logsdon 5-48, Lehmann 3-83, Billy Billings 1-6, Josh Meyers 1-5, Prince 1-0.