THE LATEST LINE: EX-JACKSON COACH BASKS IN SPARTANS' STATE CROWN

Paul Webber coached Jackson High's football team for 20 years and had plenty of success. He then went to the high school he once attended, Poplar Bluff, and turned that program around, compiling an undefeated regular season along the way.

But Webber would be hard-pressed to find a high school football season more enjoyable than 1995 -- and he wasn't even coaching.

Webber, a principal at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis County, watched the Spartans go undefeated and win the Missouri Class 5A championship this year.

But Webber had more than just a school interest. Webber's youngest son, David, was one of the stars for the Spartans, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound two-way lineman who is being recruited by the nation's collegiate football powers.

"This season was a lot of fun," said Webber only a few days after the Spartans captured the state title last Saturday. "I really like it at Hazelwood East and it was neat watching what David and his teammates did this year."

Webber and his family had a most enjoyable football weekend during the recent state championships. First they went to Springfield on Friday and watched Jackson -- the school Webber had built into a Southeast Missouri football power during the 1970s and '80s -- play for the 4A title. The Indians fell just short, losing to Camdenton 20-19. It was their second consecutive state runnerup finish.

"It was great watching Jackson play," Webber said. "It's a shame they couldn't win it, but they've had two tremendous seasons."

On Saturday, in Joplin, Hazelwood East blew out Blue Springs South 42-3 for the 5A championship. It capped a storybook season for the Spartans, who needed miracle finishes to beat Hazelwood Central and Mehlville in two previous playoff games.

Webber had an interesting story to tell about when David and Nathan Norman -- one of the stars for Jackson's team the last two years -- were both about 10 years old and good friends.

"I remember at that time they said they were going to play for a state championship some day," said the elder Webber. "As it turned out, they did. But who would have guessed it would be for different schools."

Webber had three talented football-playing sons, John Paul and Keith having starred for Jackson. But David is the best of the lot. He has visits upcoming to Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas and Kansas, with a fifth still to be scheduled.

"The whole recruiting process has been a lot of fun for all of us," said Paul Webber.

While Webber likes the way things have gone the last few years in the St. Louis area, Jackson will always have a special place in his heart.

"I spent a lot of years there," he said. "The people are great. So many of my friends are still in Jackson."

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian