SportsAugust 18, 2016
Jackson football team leaning on brotherhood this season
Jackson football coach Brent Eckley has called his program a brotherhood before, but not until this season has he felt so strongly that it's ingrained in his team's identity. That bond is what has stood out to Eckley, who is set to begin his fifth season leading the Indians, so far...
Jackson football coach Brent Eckley has called his program a brotherhood before, but not until this season has he felt so strongly that it's ingrained in his team's identity.
That bond is what has stood out to Eckley, who is set to begin his fifth season leading the Indians, so far.
"Just old guys helping young guys," Eckley said. "We've had a leadership council in place -- this is our third year for it -- and those guys have really taken ownership. Within the leadership council, each one of them is responsible for 8-10 players, so within that, they've really taken responsibility to make sure that those guys are where they need to be and making sure that if they need help on something, the older guys and leaders have been very helpful with things."
It's also been evident as the team's been tested with injuries and weather that has forced several practices inside.
"They've just not been as testy with each other," Eckley said. "... This time last year we'd already had issues with not being able to get along and what not. This group has been really good that way."
Offense
Jackson racked up plenty of points last season but relied heavily on then-senior receiver Jeremy Elliott, who finished the year with 1,133 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns on 85 receptions.
Eckley expects a more balanced and consistent attack this season after he noticed a trend of Elliott bailing out the offense on fourth downs after failed attempts at generating offense in other ways.
"I've been very, very, very pleased with our receivers and running backs and quarterback," Eckley said. "Our offensive line lags behind a little bit. We've got some good kids there -- it's just trying to get the right group together. It's not there yet, but they're working hard. But I would anticipate that we'll be a little more efficient on offense."
Junior Cooper Callis, who missed much of his sophomore campaign with a fractured elbow, is set to start at quarterback for the Indians. He saw action in four contests last season.
"He's in the ballpark of being our best football player, and he's improved as much as anybody throughout the summer," Eckley said. "He's really had a good summer, good practices, good training, got a lot stronger. He has a chance -- he could be one of the better ones that I've had, I think. We've just got to keep him healthy."
The Indians return the bulk of their ground game in running backs Bryndan Reid and Ethan Laster, who combined for 1,397 of the team's 1,901 rushing yards and 13 of 21 rushing touchdowns.
Callis' top target will likely be Quentin Kent, the team's second-leading receiver behind Elliott last year.
"Quentin Kent's had a great summer," Eckley said, "one of the best summers that I've seen a receiver have since I've been here."
Jack Warren, Drew Moran and Quentin's younger brother, Jordan Kent, who Eckley says "might be the best athlete in our program," are also in the mix at receiver.
Third-year starter Nick Freeman will lead the way at offensive tackle, while Cade Lattimer has moved from a guard spot to center.
Owen Leible is expected to make an impact, and Tanner Lambert also is in the mix for a spot on the offensive line, which has been retooled due to senior Bryce Dickerson tearing his ACL earlier in the summer during wrestling.
Defense/ST
After a defense that had its fair share of missed tackles graduated its leading tackler, fundamentals are the key for Jackson.
"We've been kind of up and down during the summer with that," Eckley said, "but with the work in the weight room and some of the change of direction stuff our guys are doing, we're a little more athletic overall than I think we were last year or maybe even the year before."
Replacing linebacker Gabriel Dudley, who ran away with the team lead for tackles with 115, is a must for the Indians.
His brother, Calvin Dudley, had 33 tackles a year ago and is expected to be a playmaker at outside linebacker along with Landen Pehle, who had 32 tackles.
Payne Guilliams is the team's top returning tackler. He, Quentin Kent, Cole Welker and Jake Friedrich are solid options in the secondary.
Freeman, who had 34 tackles and posted a team-leading three sacks, played almost every snap last year and will bolster the defensive line if he can remain healthy. Garrett McMahon also returns to the defensive line.
Sophomore Matt Jaco will handle kicking for the Indians, while sophomore Dawson Southard, who took over long-snapping duties last year after Tyler Brinkopf and Dickerson both went down with injuries, will resume the long-snapping role.
Laster, Jordan and Quentin Kent are top options to return punts and kickoffs.
Callis' role will also include punting.
"Callis is a really outstanding punter," Eckley said. "He's probably at least where Dante [Vandeven] was as a senior. ... He's got a live leg."
Final analysis
A year after falling just short of the state championship, the Indians fell back down to earth in 2015. Last year's 5-5 record didn't meet normal expectations, as the Indians struggled with some growing pains, a quarterback shuffle and injuries.
Now there is stability at QB with Callis, the lessons learned from five losses and an opportunity to show that was just a blip on the radar.
So far, the preseason has offered both positive signs and concerns.
Eckley knows his team is committed to improving from last year's .500 season, which ended the Indians' string of district titles at two, because about 70 of his players made it to 90 percent of the team's offseason workouts that require a 5:40 a.m. arrival.
What he's not so certain about is the offensive line, which had to be pieced together week by week last year because of various injuries.
With Dickerson already out this season, Eckley is uneasy.
"I'm really nervous about where we're at with depth in our line," Eckley said. "I'm nervous about that, especially after what we went through last year where you go from being pretty good to not very good, but it can be one or two injuries and that's a real difference-maker. But like I said, those kids are working hard."
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2016 Jackson Indians Roster
No. Name Year Pos.
1 Bryndan Reid 12 RB/DB
2 Guthrie Hume 12 WR/DB
3 Cooper Callis 11 QB/DB
4 Jake Friedrich 11 WR/DB
5 Bo Goddard 11 WR/DB
6 Cole Welker 11 WR/DB
7 Tristen Koenig 10 QB/DB
8 Brendan Gross 12 WR/DB
10 Jared Wren 10 QB/DB
13 Terrico Johnson 11 WR/DB
14 Payne Guilliams 12 QB/DB
15 Landen Pehle 12 WR/LB
17 Matthew Jaco 10 WR/DB
18 Jack Warren 11 WR/DB
19 Jordan Kent 10 WR/DB
20 Dawson Southard 10 RB/LB
21 Lucas Stricker 12 WR/DB
22 Quentin Kent 12 WR/DB
23 Ethan Laster 11 RB/LB
24 Trevor Chaffin 12 WR/DB
25 Nathan Brown 11 RB/LB
26 Jeremy Cooley 10 WR/LB
28 Drew Moran 10 WR/DB
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29 Dawson Tyler 10 WR/DB
31 Tyler Chaffin 10 WR/DB
32 Bailey Beggs 11 WR/LB
33 Justin Laurentius 11 WR/DB
36 Trenton Holt 10 WR/DB
38 Canyon Atherton 10 WR/LB
40 Tyler Martin 10 WR/DB
44 Isiah Evans 12 WR/LB
50 Kyle Clifton 10 OL/DL
51 Hunter Hull 10 OL/DL
52 Cade Lattimer 11 OL/DL
53 Tyler Hill 10 OL/DL
54 Bryce Dickerson 12 OL/LB
55 Devin Sandin 10 OL/DL
57 Jerrod Cavin 11 OL/LB
58 Collin Nicks 12 OL/DL
59 Braxton Green 10 OL/DL
60 Wesley Blattel 10 OL/DL
61 Luke Collins 10 OL/DL
62 Charles Vandeven 12 OL/DL
64 Christian Pogue 11 OL/DL
65 Logan Tankersley 10 OL/DL
66 Clayton Heisserer 11 OL/DL
67 Tanner Lambert 12 OL/DL
69 LaDante White 12 OL/DL
70 Nick Freeman 12 OL/DL
71 Garrett McMahon 11 OL/DL
72 Justin Crane 11 OL/DL
73 Kevin Brown 10 OL/DL
74 Owen Leible 11 OL/DL
75 Bryan Johnson 11 OL/DL
76 Justin Singleton 10 OL/DL
77 Collin Rosborg 10 OL/DL
78 Chris Banta 11 OL/DL
79 Caleb Wooden 10 OL/DL
84 Jamar Collier 12 WR/DB
85 Nicholas Skidmore 12 WR/DB
87 Noah Robinson 12 WR/DB
88 Andrew Neely 11 WR/DB
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Head coach
Brent Eckley, 5th year (30-14)
Assistant coaches
Darren Bardot, Brad Berry, Ty Crowden, Derek Gohn, Nick Grassi, Luke Guyot, Reagan McDowell, Joe Moss, Brandon Norman, Derek Seivers, Jay Vermillion
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2016 schedule
Date Opponent Time
8.19 HICKMAN 7 p.m.
8.26 LINDBERGH 7 p.m.
9.2 @Sikeston 7 p.m.
9.9 @Marion (Ark.) 7 p.m.
9.16 FARMINGTON 7 p.m.
9.23 POPLAR BLUFF 7 p.m.
9.30 @Cape Central 7 p.m.
10.7 @De Smet 7 p.m.
10.14 ST. LOUIS UNIV. 7 p.m.
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2015 at a glance
Record: 5-5
Playoff result: Lost to Vianney 49-14 in Class 5 District 1 first round
Points for: 33.5 ppg
Points against: 34.7 ppg
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Key returners
OFFENSE
Passing: Cooper Callis (49-81, 719 yds., 7 TD, 2 Int.)
Rushing: Bryndan Reid (133 att., 788 yds., 8 TD)
Receiving: Quentin Kent (37 rec., 586 yds., 1 TD)
DEFENSE
Tackles: Payne Guilliams (60)
Sacks: Nick Freeman (3)
Interceptions: Guilliams (2)
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