JACKSON -- The Todd Wessel Highlight Film was shot at Jackson last night.

If the Beaumont Bluejackets know what's good for them, they'll catch the movie early this next week.

Wessel rushed for a career-high 280 yards on 32 carries Friday night in Jackson's 37-21 win over Graves County, Ky.

Wessel's 29-yard run set up a 33-yard touchdown pass from Andy Callis to Tory Meyr, giving Jackson a 9-7 lead in the second quarter.

His 63-yard touchdown run stretched the Indians' lead to 16-7 two minutes later, and his 31-yard run set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Ryan Propst which put Jackson in the driver's seat with a 23-7 lead late in the first half.

"We weren't really imaginative," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "It was Wessel left, Wessel right and some big plays in between."

Jackson improved to 1-3. Graves County is 1-4.

Jackson led 3-0 after a defense-dominated first quarter. Jason Hopkins scored the quarter's only points on a 28-yard field goal with 2:54 left.

A fumble recovery by Hopkins on a Graves County punt return had set the Indians up at the Eagles' 9-yard line.

Graves County took a 7-3 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by Eric Barclay with 11:26 left in the second quarter. The Eagles grinded the ball 54 yards downfield in nine plays.

Graves County established its effective ground game on its drive, but set itself back with penalties and was forced to punt.

"There for awhile, I was getting kind of worried," Wessel said. "It was teeter-tottering back-and-forth."

But after the Indians took the lead on a beautiful reception by Meyr on which he outleaped a defensive back, Wessel took over.

His 63-yard run down the left sideline gave the Indians momentum, and after they forced the Eagles to go three-and-out on their next possession, Propst made it 23-7 with his 15-yard run.

Graves County kept it close, however. Barclay scored on a 5-yard run up the middle with 1:28 left in the half to close the halftime deficit to 23-13.

Wessel, who rushed for 176 yards on 11 first-half carries, monopolized the ball in the second half, gaining 104 yards on 21 carries.

After Wessel ran for 37 yards on the Indians' opening drive of the second half, Callis, starting over Chris Freeman this week, hit a wide-open Nathan McWilliams for a 33-yard touchdown and a 30-13 lead.

Graves County pulled to within 30-21 on a fake punt with 9:09 left in the game.

Left-handed quarterback Stephen Hatchell, an impressive passer and also the Eagles' punter, connected with Dustin Burgess for a 55-yard touchdown pass.

Jackson hogged the ball on its next drive, however, going 62 yards in six minutes to polish off its first victory.

Chris Freeman, who relieved Callis in the fourth quarter, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Harith Jones in the front corner of the end zone with 2:59 left in the game.

The Eagles, who moved the ball effectively on the ground, were left longing for possession of the ball.

"We could have controlled the game more," Graves County coach Anthony Hatchell said. "But you can't do that if you can't stop the run."

Wessel, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, was almost unstoppable.

"I give all the credit to my linemen," Wessel said.

"The big thing is, I thought Todd showed some patience," Gross said. "When he found the crease, he hit it. Then, when he hit it, he pointed his pads north and south."