Jackson loses a thriller in OT at state

Jackson's Bryce Norman (44) tackles Carthage QB Patrick Carlton (17) in Saturday's MSHSAA Class 5 title game in Columbia.

Jacob Wiegand ~ jwiegand@semissourian.com

COLUMBIA, Mo. - It all ended very quickly for the Jackson football squad at Faurot Field.

Carthage quarterback Patrick Carlton scampered in from two yards out in overtime to give the Tigers their first-ever MSHSAA Class 5 state football championship Saturday, 27-21.

Suddenly the undefeated Indians knew what it felt like to lose.

Carthage (12-2) featured a run-dominant offense led by Carlton.

The junior 6-foot-2 signal-caller piled up 132 yards on 28 carries.

“Their quarterback was outstanding,” Jackson coach Brent Eckley said, “as we thought he’d be."

“(Carlton) was a really physical runner,” added Indians junior linebacker Bryce Norman, Jackson’s leading tackler in 2019.

Defense dominated the game’s first two possessions, as both teams turned the ball over on downs.

Jackson (13-1) finished one-for-three on fourth-down conversions, while Carthage was three-for-five.

The Tigers struck first, with running back Tyson Mueller tearing through the Indian defense for a 10-yard score as time expired in the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Carthage would later go up by two scores following a second fumble by Jackson quarterback Cael Welker.

On the first play of the Tigers' series, Carlton connected with Marcus Huntley on a 36-yard strike with 5:44 left in the half.

Just as the Tigers scored with time running out in the first quarter, the Indians nearly did it as time expired in the half.

Welker ran it in from four yards out with 15 ticks on the clock to cut the deficit to seven.

In the opening possessions of the third quarter, in the first of two interceptions against Carlton, Blake Blackman grabbed an errant throw for an 11-yard pick-six to tie the game at 14-all.

Blackman would later have a second interception in the fourth quarter. The sophomore had an eventful night. He also lost a fumble on a kickoff return.

“Turnovers were the difference in the game,” said Eckley, who also held out praise for Carthage’s game plan.

“Their offense,” the eighth-year Jackson coach said, “is a different animal than we see week to week.”

Column: Lessons of success were taught to Jackson players even in defeat

Tom Davis

COLUMBIA, MO. -- After spending the first 52-plus years of my life in Indiana, I have become a little rigid in my defense of the ways of being a Hoosier. However, one of the things that high school athletics taught every Indiana native age 40 and up is very applicable to the members of the Jackson football program in 2019.

Carthage went up 21-14 thanks to a one-yard run by Carlton late in the third.

Jackson came back again to tie the game when Welker hit Michael Schneider with a 13-yard strike on a fourth-and-goal play with 10:08 left.

The grinding run-heavy Carthage attack had an effect on the Indians. The Carthage offense was on the field for almost 31 minutes of the 48-minute game in regulation.

“It hurts to lose,” said Eckley, “but it was a hard-fought game and I’m proud of these guys.”

“(Carthage) didn’t have a lot left in the tank (either).”

The occasional five-man front Carthage showed the Jackson defense was big.

Carthage tackle Aiden Logan, for example, tips the scales at 290 pounds.

“(Carthage’s) jumbo front,” Eckley said, “created more gaps than we could defend.”

“(But) our guys played their butts off,” added the coach, whose career record at Jackson is now 70-22.

SCORING

First quarter

(Carthage) Tyler Mueller, 10-yd run (Marcus Huntley kick), 7-0, 0:00.

Second quarter

(Carthage) Huntley, 36-yd pass from Patrick Carlton (Huntley kick), 14-0, 5:44.

(Jackson) Cael Welker, 4-yd run (Logan Bruns kick) 14-7, 0:15.

Third quarter

(Jackson) Blake Blackman, 11-yd INT return for TD (Bruns kick), 14-14, 10:36.

(Carthage) Carlton, one-yd run (Huntley kick), 21-14, 3:55.

Fourth quarter

(Jackson) Michael Schneider, 13-yd pass from Welker (Bruns kick), 21-21, 10:08.

Overtime

(Carthage) Carlton, two-yard run, 27-21.

STATS

Passing

(Jackson) Welker, 15-29-0, 132 yards; (Carthage) Carlton, 5-10-2, 100 yards.

Rushing (Jackson)

(Jackson) Welker, 19 rushes, 81 yards, 1 TD; Waters, 15 rushes, 55 yards; Turley, 1 rush, 0 yards; (Carthage) Carlton, 28 rushes, 132 yards; Mueller, 24 rushes, 91 yards; Huntley, 5 rushes, 29 yards.

Receiving

(Jackson) Waters, 5 catches, 49 yards; Turley, 3 catches, 19 yards; Skrob, 3 catches, 13 yards; Starzinger, 2 catches, 15 yards; Liley, 1 catch, 23 yards; Schneider, 1 catch, 13 yards.

Interceptions

Carthage – none; Jackson 2-11-1

Fumbles (lost)

Carthage – none; Jackson – 3

First Downs

Carthage – 27; Jackson – 21

Third-Down Conversions

Carthage - 6 of 15; Jackson - 11 of 18

Fourth-Down Conversions

Carthage – 3 of 5; Jackson – 1 of 3

Red Zone Scores/Chances

Carthage – 3 of 4; Jackson – 2 of 3

Total Tackles/Sacks

(Carthage) Gall 9/0, Schrader 9/2, Witt 8/0, Kabance 7/0, Kendrick 5/0, Campa 4/1, Sneed 3/0, Martini 3/1, Neuenswan 2/0, Huntley 1/0, Lilienk 1/0.

(Jackson) Norman 13/0, Blackman 9/0, McDowell 6/0, Amelunke 6/0, Lawrence-Collier 6/0, Garner Horman 5/0, Pike 2/5, Guilliams 5/0, Meyer 1/4, Jones 4/0, Craft 4/0, Styer 2/0, Lewis 0/1.