THE INDIANS: ON THE WARPATH

Every morning when the sun rose, it was on their minds.

Every morning when they slapped weights on the squat bar, every time they ran a sprint, it was on their minds.

And it will be on their minds until Destination Day: November 2, 2001.

Last season was a disappointment to the Jackson Indians.

Even though they won nine of their 10 games last year, a loss to the underdog Poplar Bluff Mules in the season finale cost Jackson a conference and district title and ended their hopes at a run at the 5A state title.

That loss has sat as well with the Indians as a lukewarm fast-food burrito on a hot summer day.

"We went down flat on our faces and it was the last taste in our mouths," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "We let Poplar Bluff line up and physically beat us at every position. We want to show them we can play better than we did."

A win this year over the Mules would be a welcome gulp of refreshment.

"It sucked," was about all linebacker Seth McDowell would say about last year's game against the Mules. "It was our worst game of the year. All I know is that paybacks suck."

He would know. The Mules considered last year's win a payback after Jackson upset the Mules the year before.

"It's definitely a motivating factor," said Jackson lineman Pete Ressler.

"We think about the Bluff game," running back and returning all-stater Mario Whitney said. "That's why we're there in the weight room every morning."

Talent, chemistry

So how will the Indians get it done?

Gross has been elated with this year's team so far, a team which consists of 32 seniors and some talented ones at that.

One area that seems to have improved from last year's team is chemistry.

"We're a whole new team this year," Ressler said. "We weren't a team last year. It was more like a bunch of individuals."

"We want to stay together, stick together and not let anybody turn on each other," Whitney said. "Nothing can hold us down except that."

Said Gross, "A big reason why the chemistry is better is these seniors are closer knit than last year. This year's group run around together. They swim together, hang out after practice battin' the breeze. It seemed like last year when practice was over, they just showered and went their separate ways."

Chemistry is one thing and talent is another. Gross believes this team has plenty of both.

He didn't want to make a prediction as to whether this year's squad would be better or worse than last year's, but "I'd like to think we'll be extremely similar," he said.

A team catalyst

It all starts with Whitney, the senior speedster who led Southeast Missouri with 1,436 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. Whitney, orally committed to the University of Missouri, could have put up bigger numbers, but he was pulled out early of several games because of lopsided victories.

Whitney (6 feet, 188 pounds) runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and bench presses 260 pounds.

Jackson's offensive line won't be quite as big as it was last year. Last year, the average weight of Jackson's starting lineman was 249 pounds. This year, it will be 244.

Bryan Austin will get most of the snaps at quarterback this year and looked impressive during summer camps and practices, Gross said. What Austin lacks in size (5-10, 165), he makes up for in grit. Whitney also took some snaps at quarterback in the offseason.

The receiver position perhaps took the biggest blow to graduation, losing the versatile Ray Goodson, now at Southeast Missouri State, and tight end Pat McComas. The passing game figures to be more spread out this year.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jackson's biggest question marks are at the defensive ends. Caleb Daniel anchored one of those spots for the last couple of years, but he's now playing at Southeast and McComas played well on the other side.

The linebacker position will be the strength of the defense. Seth Harrell, who recorded more than 100 tackles last year as a junior, will anchor down the middle, while James Love, McDowell and Kyle Perry will share the outside positions.

JACKSON

Coach, year, record: Carl Gross, 20th year overall, 13th as head coach, 97-43 as head coach

Enrollment, class size: 1,402, 5A

Key Players returning: RB Mario Whitney, FB Brad Berry, LB Seth Harrell, OL Travis Dambach, DL Pete Ressler

Key Players lost: TE/WR Ray Goodson, TE Pat McComas, K Joey Beard, OL Josh Pennebaker

No. of Returning starters: 9

Record last year: 9-1

2001 schedule:

(All times are 7:30 unless noted)

Aug. 31 at Sikeston

Sept. 7 vs. Sumner

Sept. 14 at Perryville

Sept. 21 at Graves Co.

Sept. 28 vs. Parkway North

Oct. 5 at Cape Central

Oct. 12 at Hillsboro *

Oct. 19 vs. Vianney

Oct. 26 at Francis Howell *

Nov. 2 vs. Poplar Bluff

* 7 p.m. games

2000 Results:

vs. Sikeston W 30-3

at Sumner W 42-6

vs. Perryville W 37-3

vs. Dyersburg W 43-14

at Parkway North W 28-14

vs. Cape Central W 34-24

vs. Hillsboro W 42-0

at Vianney W 27-0

vs. Francis Howell W 27-0

at Poplar Bluff L 27-16

Probable starters:

(as of Aug. 15)

DEFENSE:

DL Matt Roethemeyer (6-1, 220, sr.)

DL Travis Dambach (6-5, 270, sr.)

DL Peter Ressler (6-1, 235, sr.)

DL Colby Lohman (6-3, 230, jr.)

LB Seth McDowell (6-4, 205, sr.)

LB Seth Harrell (6-1, 202, sr.)

LB James Love (5-7, 170, sr.)

S Justin Thompson (5-10, 165, sr.)

S Kyle Newell (5-8, 155, sr.)

CB Gabe Baugh (5-10, 165, sr.)

CB Brian Randolf (6-1, 160, sr.)

OFFENSE

QB Bryan Austin (5-11, 170, sr.)

RB Mario Whitney (6-0, 190, sr.)

FB Brad Berry (6-1, 205, sr.)

T Dambach

T Lohman

C Ressler

G Kyle Perry (6-1, 235, sr.)

G Justin Rollet (6-2, 250, jr.)

TE Roethemeyer

WR Thompson/Randolf

TE Seth McDowell

SPECIAL TEAMS

P James Simmons (6-1, 185, sr.) Right now, our kicking, we've got three guys neck-and-neckUnbelievable leg

K Gabe Koehler (5-10, 180, sr.)/Simmons/ Chad Reiminger (5-10, 195, jr.)

KR Whitney

PR Whitney

Long snapper Kyle Perry

Key substitutes: OL Chris Peart (6-1, 252, jr.),OL Luke Auftenberg (5-11, 190, jr.), Charles Flint (5-2, 260, jr.); TE Matt McComas (6-5, 215, jr.) Cory Aufdenberg (6-2, 185, sr.); , DL Peart, McComas, Luke Wade (6-3, 200, sr.); LBs Chad Reiminger, Koehler, Stuart McIntosh (6-1, 185); DBs Josh Parham (5-10, 170, sr.) Dusty Roberts (6-1, 175, sr.) Clay Randol (6-0, 165, sr.)

Strengths:

Talented senior class with good leadership

Several versatile players

Good overall team speed and atheticism which will show up on special teams

Weaknesses:

Lack of depth on the offensive and defensive line

Team too dependent on Whitney at times

Loss of Goodson leaves question marks for deep receiving threat

Player Profile

Brad Berry

Position: fullback

Keys to season: "We've got a lot of team speed and a lot of size. The biggest part of the season will be the Bluff game after they beat us last year."

Personal goals: "I really haven't thought about it. I just want to do what's asked of me and win a district championship."

Superstitions: "I always put my right shoe on before my left before a game."

Best thing about football: "Just being able to play with your friends and know that you can win as a team."

NOTES: The Zimmer Radio Group has picked up Jackson games. Erik Sean will call the games on 93.9-FM. KYRX-FM 104.7-FM, a member of the Withers Broadcasting Group, will be broadcasting the games again this year. A new press box been put up as well as a new scoreboard at Jackson Stadium. The Indians will play only four regular-season home games this year, but are guaranteed a home game if they reach the playoffs. ... Gross thinks punter James Simmons is the best in Southeast Missouri. ... Kyle Perry will likely start on defense, but Gross was uncertain at which position.