Semoball

Jackson FB Notes: Maturity, work carry Indians to state title

Jackson senior wide receiver Rhett Liley lifts the trophy with his Indian teammates following Jackson's 42-7 victory over Platte County in the MSHSAA Class 5 Football State Final on Saturday at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.
Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

JEFFERSON CITY – Veteran Jackson High School football coach Brent Eckley has enough experience in his profession, and respect for Platte County’s team, to comprehend that Saturday’s MSHSAA Class 5 State Final battle between the Indians and Pirates would be just that: a battle.

However, he has also been around his team enough to have a sense that the 2020 Jackson Indians were on a mission to win the program’s first state championship.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys,” Eckley said following his team’s 42-7 thrashing of the Pirates. “They have been super focused. This week, we had our best practices. It’s been a ball coaching these guys.”

It’s easy for an athlete to get their adrenaline flowing on gamedays. However, for a young person to maintain that sense of purpose and drive during a 6 a.m. weightlifting session or the umpteenth practice of a season, there is little glory in that. To do so when no one watching (other than the Indian coaches), THAT takes maturity, and Eckley paid homage to his players, particularly his 18 seniors, for their diligence this season.

“I’ve had these guys for three years at the varsity level,” Eckley said while tears welled in his eyes. “It’s tough to put into words, all the work that has went into (winning the state championship).

“These guys have been tough. They have been physical. They have been committed.”

Senior quarterback Cael Welker receives a tremendous amount of adulation, and with good reason. He is weeks away from being named as a First Team All-State selection for the third straight year. However, Eckley said no one has taken the preparation for that success more seriously than Welker.

“He shows up every day,” Eckley said of Welker. “We don’t have bad practices because he loves football. It is cold and snowing and he wants to be there. It’s 100 degrees and he wants to be there. It is awesome.

“That is what makes him special, is there is never a bad day. If your quarterback doesn’t have a bad day, then it’s tough for your team to have a bad day.”

Practice makes perfect – 14-0 perfect

Welker and fellow senior, linebacker Bryce Norman said the key to the Indians’ success this season was the work put in during the week, not just on Friday nights (or a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon, such as yesterday was).

“Every single practice,” Welker explained, “we go hard. Offensively, we practice against our defense, so we have already seen the best defense in the state.”

Welker had little choice BUT to practice hard and well when he had to compete with teammates like senior linebackers Garner Horman, Bryce Norman, and Randol McDowell.

“Sometimes in practice, it gets a little bit heated,” Norman said. “I get out of hand sometimes with our linemen. But it’s nice to go against the best offense because then you come out (on game day) and you’re not surprised about anything.”

Preparation is the key

Norman – and the rest of the Indian defenders – have a keen sense of what an opponent is doing early in each contest and the scoreboard has shown that this season. No team has come within three touchdowns of the Indians this fall.

And the same can be said of the Jackson offense.

For the second straight game, the Indians needed just two plays to get on the scoreboard, and that didn’t surprise Welker given his experience under the Indian coaching staff.

“Our coaches work harder than anybody,” Welker said. “They love football. We get done with our game on a Friday and they come in on Sunday and are prepping for next week. They just love to do their job and I feel like that is why they are so good at what they do.”

Asked if he felt more prepared than his competition and Welker didn’t mince words.

“Every week,” he said emphatically.

Memories can linger

A year ago, the Jackson football team climbed back on the bus following the state title game in no mood to celebrate.

The Indians had an early score nullified in its 27-21 overtime loss to Carthage in the 2019 Class 5 State Championship game, and they also turned the ball over more often than they typically had.

“Some of our motivation to get back here had to do with that we didn’t think that we put our best foot forward last year,” Eckley said.

That disappointment – though not discussed often among the Jackson coaches and athletes – hung over the athletes and Welker admitted that.

“I thought about (the loss) more often than I would have liked to,” Welker said. “It was definitely motivation knowing that we made it here last year and it didn’t end up like (Saturday’s win).

“That sucks. It felt terrible. It motivated me to get back here and get the job done.”

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