Scrimmage a chance for QB Adrian Fox to make another first impression in Jackson

After countless days in the weight room and practice field, the Jackson football team spent Friday running plays against someone other than themselves.

Jackson's home scrimmage with New Madrid on July 28 was a time for friends to connect. Eagles coach Tyler Fullhart and first-year Indians coach Ryan Nesbitt go back a way, which helped set up the event. The goal for Fullhart was "to compete," while Nesbitt's objective was to be "injury free." Both coaches saw their objectives accomplished that night.

"Jackson is well respected," Fullhart said. "Coach Nesbitt has been a friend of mine for a long time, so just bringing the guys here and competing was a lot of fun."

The scrimmage was senior quarterback Adrian Fox's chance to make a good first impression in front of his new coach. Fox entered the event with the rest of the projected starters and scored a rushing touchdown on the first play, showing his athleticism is a key aspect of his ability to lead the offense into the new season.

"We were excited to get back out there, Fox said, "it was really important."

Fox arrived in Jackson last year from Cape Central and was thrust into a training camp entanglement with then-senior Zach Calder for the tall task of replacing Cameron Marchi as the Indians starting quarterback. The two ended up splitting the duties throughout the season, all the way until the end, as both quarterbacks had a hand in Jackson's 21-20 home loss to Poplar Bluff in the 2022 MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal.

That game turned out to be Brent Eckley's last as the Indians' head coach. In his second year, Fox is now working with a second coach. However, the more things change, the more seems to stay the same for Fox.

"Not a lot has changed at all," Fox said. "[Nesbitt] does a lot of the same stuff as Eckley. We will run the ball a little bit more."

One thing that has changed, according to Fox, is the team's chemistry over the course of the offseason.

"It definitely improved a lot," Fox said. "Losing your head coach and then getting a new one, we definitely all had to come together as a team."

Fox has been under three head coaches in three years. For him, a major part of building chemistry with his teammates during the offseason included going out on an open field to throw to receivers such as Kai Crowe and TJ Altenthal.

That and being back for another season with the Indians leads to Fox feeling better prepared to take the starting quarterback position this year.

"Experience helps with being comfortable in the pocket," Fox said.

Jackson will open the season at Edwardsville (Illinois) on August 25. The two teams opened last season, with the Tigers defeating the Indians 41-34 at the Pit.