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Jackson romp over Hickman begins before kick-off
Things went bad quickly in Hickman High School’s quest to upset one of Missouri’s prep football powers.
As in, before the opening kick-off.
The Kewpies not only had to try and top MSHSAA Class 5 No. 3-ranked Jackson but they had to do so with its back-up quarterback (sophomore Ewan Tolmie), whose only completion this season had sailed into the hands of a player with a different color jersey.
The result wasn’t pretty, as Jackson dominated from the opening play and ultimately won 56-7 on a frigid night in Columbia.
The victory was the Indians’ 29th consecutive in regular-season play and wrapped up their third consecutive unbeaten regular season.
Jackson (9-0) hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Sept. 22, 2017, when it fell on the road 29-28 at Poplar Bluff.
WITH junior starting quarterback TJ Turner playing, Hickman would have had little chance in this game. But without him, it had no chance and that was apparent quickly.
The Indians’ defense forced a 3-and-out offensive series by Hickman to open the game and their special teams (junior Ryley Styer) got a hand on the Kewpies punt, which allowed Jackson to take its first snap in Hickman territory.
On the Indians’ first snap, senior quarterback Cael Welker hit junior wide receiver, Kannen Turley, on a screen and he ran 47 yards for a score and a 7-0 Jackson lead.
Welker, who is a two-time First Team All-State selection, threw for three scores on the night, which gave him 27 for the season with nary an interception.
Following another Hickman (2-6) four-play series, the Welker-to-Turley combo almost did it again.
Welker hit Turley, who tore up the sideline for 31 yards before stepping out of bounds just inches before crossing the goal line.
No worry, sophomore runner Tony Williams finished the drive with a one-yard score and a 14-0 Indian lead at the 7:13 mark of the opening quarter.
With less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Welker capped a series with a nine-yard touchdown run and a 21-0 Jackson advantage. It was a series in which receiver Ty Moran, and runners Daniel Dickerson and Dimechi Herring each made stellar plays.
Welker contributed another score at the 10:12 mark of the second quarter for a 28-0 margin, this time by hitting sophomore wide receiver Marquis Eckley for a 20-yard touchdown.
The Indian lead stretched to 35-0 at the 6:52 mark when Welker and Turley hooked up yet again, this time from a mere three yards out.
The Indians’ special teams found an opportunity to shine again when a horde of Jackson players ransacked the Hickman punter, who had tried in vain to field a low snap and somehow survive.
Sophomore defensive lineman Tony Terry landed on the failed punt in the end zone for a 42-0 Indian lead.
Just to prove a point, the Indian defense made one final great play with five seconds remaining in the opening half, as senior linebacker Garner Horman stripped a Kewpie of the ball, and classmate and fellow linebacker, Randoll McDowell, recovered it.
Welker closed the first half having completed all eight of his throws, while Moran had three receptions for 47 yards and Turley had a pair of scores.
Jackson went run-heavy to open the second half and Dickerson carried the ball for gains of 12, 5, and another 12-yard jaunt before tearing through the Kewpies for a 34-yard score and a 49-0 lead.
With 2:43 remaining in the third quarter, Styer closed his spectacular defensive night by hauling in a Hickman throw and running back for a touchdown and a 56-0 score.
The Kewpies managed to make a couple of productive plays against the Jackson reserves late in the game, one of which was a touchdown run by junior Deontral Weston for the final margin.
The Indians will be off next week before opening postseason play Nov. 6 at home in the Class 5 semifinals.