The Jackson football team surpassed its win total from all of last season Friday night.

Defense was the primary reason.

The Indians not only notched their first shutout since 2007 with a 17-0 victory over visiting North County, their defense also accounted for the game's first points.

"I thought the defense played a heck of a game," senior lineman Luke Slinkard said. "We really did want to keep them from scoring."

Added senior linebacker Austin Gonzaque: "Goose egg. Ain't nothing like it."

Jackson running back Ethan Ruch moves downfield past North County's Joe Swofford as Jackson's Michael Riney blocks during the third quarter of a game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, in Jackson. Jackson defeated North County 17-0. (Kristin Eberts)

Jackson, which improved to 2-1 after going 1-9 last year, needed its stout defense on a night when its offense never really could get untracked.

"They were stunting on us and we never got going," Jackson coach Van Hitt said.

Not only that, but Hitt didn't think the Indians were focused mentally for their homecoming game after a sluggish week of practice.

"We just weren't really ready to play," Hitt said. "We came out with motor oil in our veins. We were sluggish. We just couldn't get it going the same way we practiced.

"Who knows why? Maybe they were thinking about the [homecoming] dance tomorrow [Saturday] night. They're kids."

Jackson quarterback Bobby Clark looks for his options as North County's Derek Mitchell approaches during the first quarter of a game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, in Jackson. Jackson defeated North County 17-0. (Kristin Eberts)

Two turnovers and a monster punt -- all within a span of about four minutes -- swung the contest in Jackson's favor.

North County (0-3), which controlled most of the first half, drove from its 25-yard line to Jackson's 5 late in the first quarter.

But the Raiders fumbled on first-and-goal, with Gonzaque receiving credit for the recovery at the 7. He said he wasn't the Jackson player who came up with the ball first, although he wasn't sure who did.

"It wasn't me," a smiling Gonzaque said. "I was just the last one that had it."

Hitt said junior lineman Jacob Jones was the Jackson player responsible for causing the fumble.

Jackson's Trent Sizemore tackles North County's Cameron Vasquez during the first quarter Friday in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

"Jacob hit him [the North County player] in the backfield and knocked it loose," Hitt said. "What I was really pleased with was after the long pass that got them down there, we didn't hang our heads."

Jackson only could gain two yards on three plays and had to punt from its end zone.

Senior Bobby Clark, also the Indians' quarterback, got off a booming punt that landed on North County's 45 and rolled all the way to the 14. The 77-yarder flipped the field position.

"That was a tremendous punt," Hitt said.

North County picked up a first down then faced second-and-6 from its 29.

Jackson running back Ethan Ruch runs through the tackles of North County defenders during the first quarter of Friday's game in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

Freshman quarterback Wyatt Compton's off-target pass was intercepted by junior defensive back Trent Sizemore, who raced untouched 41 yards to the end zone.

Sophomore Adam Brown's PAT made it 7-0 with 10 minutes, 45 seconds left before halftime.

"The pass was underthrown," Sizemore said. "I dropped back and saw it coming. I bent down and got it."

And Sizemore was off to the races for what he said was his first varsity touchdown on defense.

"It was exciting," said Sizemore, who said he scored a varsity touchdown on offense last year.

Jackson's Stetson Proffer, Austin Gonzaque, and Michael Riney, from bottom, pile on North County's John Stabenow during the third quarter of a game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, in Jackson. Jackson defeated North County 17-0. (Kristin Eberts)

Said Hitt: "The interception was the turning point in the game."

Jackson made it 10-0 on Brown's 24-yard field goal with 6:08 left in the second quarter.

Those points were set up by the Indians' only first-half drive of substance, keyed by a 39-yard screen pass from Clark to senior tailback Ethan Ruch.

The Indians managed just 74 first-half yards, 58 coming on their field-goal drive. North County had 161 first-half yards but couldn't capitalize.

Jackson's offense picked up some in the final half, gaining 160 yards, and the Indians' defense limited North County to 70 second-half yards.

The Jackson student section interacts with the cheerleaders during the third quarter of Friday night's game in Jackson.

"We did really good on defense," Sizemore said.

Sizemore ended one of North County's second-half scoring threats with his second interception of the night at the Jackson 15.

The Raiders, shut out for the second straight game, had three turnovers while Jackson had none.

"We're just killing ourselves," said North County coach Jeromy McDowell, who played quarterback at Southeast Missouri State in the early 2000s. "Mistakes, fumbles, interceptions. You can't do that to be a good football team."

Jackson iced the victory with its only offensive touchdown, a 4-yard run by Ruch with 8:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Ruch, who ripped off a 44-yard run two plays earlier, rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries. He had 77 second-half yards.

Jackson finished with 234 yards compared to 231 for the Raiders.

Next up for the Indians is a game Friday at rival Central.

North County 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Jackson 0 10 0 7 -- 17

Second Quarter

J -- Trent Sizemore 41 interception return (Adam Brown kick), 10:45

J -- Brown 24 FG, 6:08

Fourth Quarter

J -- Ethan Ruch 4 run (Brown kick), 8:10

NC J

First downs 17 9

Rushes-yards 51-139 32-132

Passing yards 92 102

Passes 6-19-2 7-21-0

Punts 4-31 5-43

Fumbles-Lost 6-1 1-0

Penalties-Yards 7-35 12-105

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- North County, Wyatt Compton 21-82, Matt Rion 19-55, Ryan Gibson 6-12, team 5-minus 10. Jackson, Ruch 18-92, Bobby Clark 5-26, Wolf Knickerbocker 5-22, Austin Gonzaque 1-10, team 3-minus 8.

PASSING -- North County, Compton 6-19-2-92. Jackson, Clark 7-21-0-102.

RECEIVING -- North County, Cameron Vasquez 6-92. Jackson, Logan Wren 3-45, Chris Poyner 2-11, Ruch 1-39, Stetson Proffer 1-7.