Parkway North coach says big game will come down to turnovers

~ Eureka and Jackson both beat Bunton's team this season.

Some would say Bob Bunton had the unenviable task of preparing his Parkway North football team for both Eureka and Jackson this season.

He doesn't quite see it that way.

"Those have been our only two losses, and I'm proud of that," Bunton said. "Those are two very good football teams."

Bunton's team is the only one that has met the two unbeaten state-ranked Class 5 teams, who are scheduled to square off 7 p.m. Friday in Jackson.

"It should be a great game," Bunton said. "It's two evenly matched teams. It's too bad it's not the final week of the season, but this is the game, no question.

"I just hope you're not going to ask me who's going to win. If anyone said they were going to pick a winner, I think you'd be guessing."

Bunton said he did ask members of his team which one they thought would win.

"Everyone had a different opinion," Bunton said, "but they had total respect for both programs. And they picked no more than a seven-point difference every time."

Bunton said Jackson (7-0, No. 5 in the state poll) and Eureka (7-0, No. 2 behind Kirkwood) are very similar programs, emphasizing hard-nosed defense and the running game.

"Those are two good coaching staffs," he said. "And just their attitudes of their kids are very similar.

"They play tough defense. They like to establish the run. This could be a quick game."

Bunton said he didn't see a weakness in either team, but he pointed to a couple areas to watch from Eureka.

Kicker Drew Geldbach has six field goals and a 36.2-yard punting average, according to statistics on stltoday.com.

"Geldbach really stands out," Bunton said. "I have yet to see the kid not put a kick into the end zone. And when you know you're going to be starting out at the 20, that can be tough."

In a tight game, special teams can make a difference. And most, including Bunton, expect this to be a tight game with points at a premium.

Jackson has two shutouts and had not allowed more than two touchdowns in a game prior to last Friday's 35-21 win against Poplar Bluff in its SEMO North-clinching win.

Eureka has two shutouts and had not allowed anyone to score more than two touchdowns in a game prior to last week's 22-20 win against previously unbeaten Parkway Central.

Stirring the defensive drink for Eureka is Maurice Alexander, a 6-foot, 170-pound junior who has a team-leading 59 tackles and 11 sacks.

"He may be one of the quickest defensive tackles I've seen this year," Bunton said. "He can pressure the quarterback and play the run."

Bunton said Eureka put a lot of pressure on his team by blitzing up the middle, whereas Jackson blitzed less but came from the outside.

"Eureka will come from all over, which puts pressure on your kids up front," he said.

"I think Jackson may have the stronger defense as far as the front three [linemen] and five [linebackers]," he added. "No. 33 [Drew Bucher] gave us fits from off the edge. Jackson's two linebackers in the middle have a nose for the ball, and they're fundamentally sound. When they tackle you, you go down."

Inside linebacker Blake Peiffer leads Jackson with 59 tackles.

Jackson coach Carl Gross this week said he has some injury concerns on the defense. One linebacker, Tyler Martin, has been battling an injury and played in a limited role against Poplar Bluff. Nose tackle Adam Collier, who scored a touchdown with a fumble recovery, also got dinged up and his availability wasn't known as of Tuesday.

Just as Eureka's defense will try to slow 1,000-yard rusher Adam Zweigart and fellow running back Cody Randen, Jackson will be charged with stopping 6-1, 190-pound senior Brad Fitzgerald, who has 869 yards and 10 scores on 149 carries.

"Fitzgerald is not going to cut and run outside," Bunton said. "He is going to run north and south and take on tacklers. He runs like a fullback ... and they have that line."

If there is a passing game to be seen, Eureka runs play-action passes and tries to sneak a receiver past the defense, Bunton said.

Quarterback Matt Borzillo is 34-of-66 for 478 yards with Caleb Dixon hauling in 16 passes for 173 yards.

Jackson's Marcus Harris has passed for 407 yards with Matt Lang making 10 catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns -- all last week. Lang also is among the area leaders with six interceptions on the defensive side. Jackson's passing offense often targets the big tight ends.

"Jackson's kids may have to work harder to get open because Eureka is so athletic back there," Bunton said. "They cover well, and they're so fast on defense. With play-action, you can get kids wide open because they're biting on the run."

But Bunton expects a lot more runs than passes.

"They both run right at you at the edge," he said. "They're both just so sound."

So what could make the difference?

"Turnovers, when you have two teams evenly matched."