The tide has turned heading into rivalry game

It's time for role reversal in the football rivalry between Central and Jackson.

The Jackson Indians have come into the annual clash undefeated the last two years and with a cumulative 18-1 record in the last three meetings. Central has entered 2-3 the last two seasons and a cumulative 5-14 over those same three years.

Jackson won those three meetings and has come out on top four years in a row.

But this is 2002 and there's been a big swing in fortunes.

Central enters tonight's clash with a 4-1 record, its best start in five years. Jackson enters with a 1-4 mark, its worst start in nine years.

"Jackson's 1-4 -- shoot, they're going to bring their best game of the year," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "They're going to get better and better as the year goes on. I really believe that."

The slow start and a tough district road ahead could turn tonight's game into the season highlight for Jackson.

"It's bigger for us this year than it's been in a while, I think," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "This year the shoe is on the other foot. So I kind of know how Lawrence has felt the last couple of years going into it. He's got a veteran football team back and a lot of three year starters, kind of like what we've had."

Central, led by a pair of double threats in returning quarterback Mitch Craft and running back/receiver Monroe Hicks, has been scoring points almost at will much of the season. Craft is second on the team in rushing with 281 yards (5.7 yards a carry) and passed for 720 yards, completing 58 percent of his passes. Hicks is the Tigers' top rusher and receiver with 608 and 258 yards, respectively.

Central's lone loss came in double overtime to North County when it scored a season-low 28 points. The Tigers average 35.2 points a game.

Jackson averages 15.5 points a game, but half of its 68 points of the season came in its only win, a 34-12 victory over Graves County (Ky.). Central defeated Graves County --their only common opponent -- 46-7.

While Jackson may enter the game without its usual intimidating numbers, the Indians have played a schedule that has required trips to St. Louis to face Class 5 Rockwood Summit and Class 6 schools Pattonville and Fort Zumwalt West.

"They're out there with some tough, big people," Brookins said.

"There haven't been many games on our schedule where you can just go out and not play almost flawless football and win," Gross said. "It's been tough on our kids, but I know they're excited about the game. It's just going to be nice not to have to get on the bus and travel to St. Louis."

Even against some of the top teams in the state, Jackson has shown the ability to move the ball at times with a strong line and the running of senior Stuart McIntosh and sophomore Jason Meystedt.

"This is the strongest offensive line we'll see all year," Brookins said. "They're just a physical bunch. To me that's going to be one of the biggest keys, just the battle up front."

Making the matchup even more intriguing is Jackson's domination of Central in the preseason jamboree. Jackson pushed the Tigers around with their bullish, physical style.

"The stars were just aligned for us," Gross said. "Really the jamboree the last several years has not been a good indication on who the better football team is. I'm glad we played that jamboree because our kids have some confidence coming into the game. When you haven't been winning, it's tough to have much confidence."

jbreer@semissourian.com

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