Road to the title game — Jackson football 2019

Friday, December 6, 2019

Jacob Wiegand and Tyler Graef

Here's a look back at the Jackson Indians' historic 2019 season from their season opener against Webster Groves to their departure from Jackson en route to the Columbia, Missouri, for the MSHSAA Class 5 state championship game. The Indians face Carthage for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at Faurot Field in Columbia.

Jackson senior Luke Starzinger (23), with flag, and teammates take the field before the start of the team's 48-0 win against Webster Groves on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
From right: Jackson sophomores Luke Brotherton (57), Brandon Hon (29) and Joshua Wehrenberg (19) watch the Indians' 48-0 win against Webster Groves on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson senior Seth Waters (22) handles the ball next to Webster Groves senior Noah Arinze (42) and senior DJ Robinson (4) during the Jackson Indians' matchup against Webster Groves on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson sophomore Moriah Respondek cheers during the Jackson Indians' 48-0 win against Webster Groves on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson Indians prepare to go to the field before their matchup against the Cape Central Tigers on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Rhet Liley (13) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the Jackson Indians' matchup against the Cape Central Tigers on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson teammates gather for a group prayer while some place their hands on Ethan Wren (10) following the Jackson Indians' 35-0 win over the Cape Central Tigers on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson Indians take the field before the start of their matchup against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Jackson. Jackson defeated Sikeston 53-0. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson seniors Alice Mansell, front middle in hat, and Ashlyn Prince, front right, do the "roller coaster" with other Jackson fans at halftime of the Jackson Indians' matchup against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Jackson. Jackson defeated Sikeston 53-0. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Kannen Turley (11) smiles on the sidelines while being congratulated by teammates after hauling in a difficult pass during a game against Battle High School on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Jackson. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Top row from left: Jackson's Nathan Harrison (53), Joshua Wehrenberg (19) and Javin Hitchcock (27) wait for the start of the game with Mark Brakhane (75), bottom center, before the Jackson Indians' 35-14 victory over Farmington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Farmington, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson Indians including front row from left: Steven Schneider (9), Cameron Byrd (72) and Patrick Boyd (5) stand for the national anthem before the start of their matchup against Farmington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Farmington, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Cael Welker (6) warms up before the start of the Jackson Indians' matchup against Farmington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Farmington, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson players raise their helmets as balloons are released before a game between Jackson and Parkway Central on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at Jackson High School. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Logan Bruns (88) exhales during the Jackson Indians' 55-14 win over the Seckman Jaguars in the Class 5 District 1 semifinal Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Cael Welker (6) meets with the rest of the team following the Jackson Indians' 55-14 win over the Seckman Jaguars in the Class 5 District 1 semifinal Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Mark Brakhane (75) lies on the floor while Luke Brotherton (57) reads a book before the Jackson Indians' 49-20 win against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Markiese Jones (8) chants as teammate Seth Waters (22) beats along on a locker before the Jackson Indians' 49-20 win against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson head coach Brent Eckley stands on the sideline during the Jackson Indians' 49-20 win against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
The moon is pictured with a Jackson Indian during the team's matchup against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Cael Welker (6) throws the ball as Fox's Carson Elwood (5) puts up an arm during the Jackson Indians' matchup against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Dalton Skrob (82) holds up the team's plaque after taking a group picture following the Indians' 49-20 win against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson fans cheer during the Jackson Indians' 29-14 victory over the Eureka Wildcats in the Class 5 quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Cael Welker (6) points toward the crowd following a touchdown during the Jackson Indians' win against the Eureka Wildcats in the Class 5 quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Blake Blackman (12) and Eureka's Tommy Davis (6) put their hands up for the ball during the Jackson Indians' 29-14 victory over the Eureka Wildcats in the Class 5 quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson Indians including Grant Sides (26), left, gather following the team's victory against the Eureka Wildcats in the Class 5 quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in Jackson. The group sang "Amazing Grace" during the huddle. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
While held by his mother Jessica Bardot of Jackson, Liam Bardot, 3, high fives Jackson's Noah Gibson (74) before the Jackson Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Markiese Jones (8) holds up a Jackson flag near the conclusion of the Jackson Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Bret Meyer (67) and JR Place (36) celebrate the Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Matthew Stroder (17) and Adam McClanahan (38) gather with teammates following Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson football players take part in a procession through Jackson High School shortly before departing for the Class 5 state championship Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Jackson. The Indians take on Carthage for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Sharon Sink cheers as Jackson football players take part in a procession through Jackson High School shortly before departing for the Class 5 state championship Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Fans wave as the Jackson Indians' football team departs for the Class 5 state championship Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Fans cheer as a bus hauling members of the Jackson football team departs for the Class 5 state championship Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Jackson. The Indians take on Carthage for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)