WESSEL CONTINUES FAMILY TRADITION

The Wessel family credo provides some insight into how Todd Wessel has arrived at his current place in life.

"We were always taught to work, go to school and play sports," said Jack Wessel, Todd's father. "And to give our best at each of them."

Todd has followed the advice, becoming the third generation of the Wessel family to play football in the area.

His grandfather, Clarence Wessel, played halfback for Jackson's last undefeated football team, in the mid 1930's. He eventually coached football at Chaffee.

Jack Wessel played for Chaffee (1960-1964), as did brothers Mick, Chris and Terry. Mick coached for a number of years at Chaffee, retiring three years ago.

Presently, Todd Wessel is the starting tailback and a 1,000-yard rusher for Jackson, which takes its 4-4 record into a home game against arch-rival Cape Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"They always talk about the nut who doesn't fall too far from the tree," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "Well, Todd hasn't fallen far from the tree. He's got that same high-octane personality as his dad. I'd hate to imagine how many Jackson games he was dragged to when he was a kid."

Wessel, a senior, has rushed for 1,216 yards this season in only six games. He missed games against Belleville Althoff and Soldan with a strained groin before returning to run for 178 yards in a 20-19 win over Poplar Bluff last Friday.

"I'm convinced if he didn't have those two weeks he missed," Gross said, "he'd be leading the state (in rushing)."

At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Wessel is a slashing runner with breakaway speed. His ability to make cuts as easily as run over would-be tacklers has sprung him on several long touchdown runs this season.

"This past week against Poplar Bluff, he hit a linebacker and just K.O.'d him," Gross said. "Then he'll make a move, and you'd better check if you've got your mouthpiece on."

"He's way past where I was," said Jack Wessel, who played quarterback in high school. "I think my son has more ability than all of us (in the family) put together. He has a God-given ability... speed."

It is Wessel's grit, however, which truly sets him apart, especially at this time of year.

"When it's tough, he wants the ball," Gross said. "I didn't think there would be any way he would carry 30 times last week. The game got tight, and Todd wanted the ball. And that kind of ignited the team. Then we had guys wanting to block for him."

The blockers are never forgotten by Wessel, who routinely deflects credit to his offensive linemen.

"The line is a really big part of the success I'm having," Wessel said after a win earlier in the season. "In Jackson High School football, we really don't have... the guy that can just take it all the way any time he gets it. We have to use our linemen."

Nick Lohman has been one of the Indians' steadiest lineman all season, and was the go-to guy against Poplar Bluff.

"From the end of the third quarter on, our line played like our best offensive lines of the past," Gross said. "If you have a good offensive line, they're going to get you three or four yards on their own.

"Then, it's up to the running back to make one miss or run over somebody."

Wessel is up to the job, picking up where so many successful Indians' running backs over the past two decades -- Stan Miller, Terry Koenig, Mike Martin, Glen Brunke, Nathan Norman (starter at Arkansas) and Devree Flint (2,000 yards last year) -- have left off.

"We've been blessed here," Gross said, "with not just good running backs, but tough running backs."

You could say it runs in the family, and with Wessel it applies to all sports. He is also a two-time all-conference center fielder in baseball.

"It doesn't make a lot of difference," Jack Wessel said. "Football, baseball, hunting, fishing.

"In our family, it's sports. Period."