Indians remain perfect this season

~ Jackson's win Thursday was its fifth straight against the Tigers.

Jackson defensive tackle Kevin Pridemore had not recovered a fumble in the first five games of this season but had two in the first 1 minute, 23 seconds of Thursday night's showdown against rival Central at Houck Stadium.

The first came on the Central 4-yard line and the second was on the Tigers' 17 yard-line. Central quarterback Chase Johnson lost both fumbles.

The two big plays set up two quick touchdowns for the Indians' offense which broke open a 14-0 lead just 1:51 into the game. Adam Zweigart scored the first on a 4-yard dash and Cody Randen added the other on a 5-yard run.

"[It] felt pretty good," Pridemore said. "It came at a good time. Right at first we had the momentum on our side. The second one I stripped it out of Johnson's hands.

Central quarterback Chase Johnson tried to regain his footing during a keeper against Jackson on Thursday at Houck Stadium. (Kit Doyle)

"On the first I just fell on it. On [the second] I just saw the ball on the ground in Chase's hands and I saw that I could probably get to it if I tried. I just dove right in there, got my hand in and snagged it right out."

After taking the early lead, Jackson continued to dominate on both defense and offense to post a 56-13 win. The victory marks the fifth straight season Jackson has won the matchup between the two squads. The Indians improved their record to 6-0. The Tigers fell to 1-5.

Johnson lost the first while passing and the second was on a snap while under center.

"I was under center and the ball just did not come up off the ground as much as I wanted it to and I dropped it back to the ground and as I tried to pick it up, I got hit and it came back out," Johnson said, discussing the second fumble.

Pridemore, a junior, is in his first year as a varsity starter. He switched to the position from linebacker in the offseason. He said the switch has not been too difficult.

Jackson running back Adam Zweigart ran for a touchdown against Central during Thursday's game.

"I thought it would be pretty tough, but it hasn't been bad," he said. "I had good size coming in, but it is always a big transition from playing off the ball to playing right up on it and going against big offensive linemen."

Jackson coach Carl Gross said he knew right at the end of last season that the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Pridemore would make a strong defensive lineman and told him of the switch during the offseason.

"He's gotten big and strong and he has got great mobility," Gross said. "He runs like a linebacker and plays the defensive line. He's a really good athlete and he's just really taken to it like a duck to water."

The running game was strong for Jackson as Zweigart finished with 11 carries for 94 yards and Randen rushed eight times for 95 yards. Both players compiled all their yardage in the first half.

"We had a lot of holes and we could get on the outside and break them," Randen said. "Our line did really good."

Cantrell Andrews streaked along the sideline en route to a touchdown against Jackson on Thursday at Houck Stadium. (Kit Doyle)

Jackson quarterback Marcus Harris completed 1 of his 2 pass attempts for 17 yards.

The Jackson offense scored early and often in the first half, entering the locker room with a 42-0 lead. After Zweigart and Randen scored on those two runs within the first 1:51 of the first quarter, the Indians rushed for four more touchdowns. Their next strike came just a little more than four minutes later when Zweigart, after being stopped on the 1-yard line on a 29-yard run, rushed in for an easy score on the next play.

Randen rushed for his second touchdown just 10 seconds into the second quarter when he took one in from 1 yard out, putting the Indians on top 28-0. Zweigart dashed for a 7-yard touchdown run to put the Indians up 35-0 with 8:29 remaining in the second quarter. Senior backup tailback Zach Humprey scored with 40 seconds remaining before the break to round out the first-half scoring and put his team up 42-0.

Central finally got on the scoreboard with 9:14 remaining in the third quarter when Cantrell Andrews scored on a 3-yard run. The extra point by Tyler McNabb was good, cutting the Jackson lead to 42-7.

The Indians got those points back a little more than three minutes later. Backup quarterback Tommy Selsor tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andy Zeller.

Andrews then added Central's other touchdown late in the third on a 41-yard run. McNabb's kick bounced off the post and the score stood at 49-13.

Humprey, who led the team with 102 yards rushing, added another touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to make it 56-13.

Both teams will be in action next Friday. Jackson will host Poplar Bluff at 7 p.m. Central will play a 7 p.m. home game against Ft. Zumwalt North.