ONE FOOT IN GRAVES; JACKSON VISITS 0-4 GRAVES CO.

For the first time this year, the undefeated Jackson Indians won't have to worry about a football team that's bigger, faster or ranked higher than them when they face winless Graves County (Ky.) on the road tonight.

In the first-ever meeting between these two teams, all the Indians have to do -- according to coach Carl Gross -- is "smell the blood" early and finish the kill.

"I'd like for us to go in, play very well early and smell blood," said Gross. "Hopefully we can go out with great intensity, smell the blood and learn to put people away when we have them on the ropes."

Last week, in a 28-14 win at state-ranked Hannibal, the Indians led 21-0 in the second quarter but were unable to pull away.

"I felt we had an opportunity to put Hannibal away in the first half and didn't do it," Gross said. "That was disappointing, but we still enjoyed that win on the way home."

Coming off a 2-8 season last year, Graves County (0-4) has been blown out in its four loses by a combined score of 143-33. Graves County coach Jay Buckley realizes the schedule won't get any easier with Jackson coming in.

"We've got another tough test this week," said Buckley, after viewing game films of Jackson this week. "Jackson's played some speed people very well and they're very well coached. Football's very important to that community, judging by the support they have at the games."

Graves County, a Class 4A school, is a young team that operates out of a one-back option with two wings. Joe Brown, a senior, is their top running back and junior Dustin Burgess operates the offense at quarterback. Two sophomores -- Kyle Hobbs and Jared Thompson -- start at linebacker.

"We're a young team," said Buckley, who starts six sophomores on offense. "We don't have any game breakers and every team needs those. (Jackson's Devree) Flint has more speed than us."

The Indians have their pick of game breakers, led by Flint. The senior running back is second in the area with 457 rushing yards, but has gotten plenty of help from backs Todd Wessel, Kyle Ward and quarterback Justin Keen.

"I don't know if we have what you'd call a superstar guy, but we have a bunch of good high school football players that play hard," Gross said. "As a result, we've had several different people make big plays for us, both offensively and defensively."

Buckley, who has been at Graves County since the school opened 13 years ago, was realistic about his team's chances against all the Indian weapons.

"I hope they leave about five or six of their guys at home," said Buckley with a laugh. "If coach Gross could leave a few back home, we might give them a good game."