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Defensive minded
Published October 17, 2008
North Jackson coach Shawn Peek gave North Jackson’s defense a solid grade for its play in last week’s 14-13 region win at Guntersville.
He’s hoping to be able to do the same after tonight’s game. And if he can’t, he says, the outcome won’t be to North Jackson’s liking.
The Class 4A No. 4-ranked Chiefs host Plainview at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson tonight in another ultra important Class 4A Region 7 matchup. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Plainview (5-2, 4-1) has made the jump from 3A to 4A look easy this season. The Bears only setbacks came against 5A Fort Payne 17-12 in Week 1 and against Guntersville, a 43-42 double overtime loss in which Guntersville converted a two-point conversion.
Plainview throttled No. 9-ranked Fairview 49-33 last week in a game not as close as the final score indicated.
“I look at (Plainview) and they don’t seem to have a weakness in their game,” Peek said. “That offense has scored 92 points the last two weeks, just has run up and down the field. They’re balanced, they can run it or throw it, and that’s always tough to defend.
“It’s a huge challenge for us as well as (Plainview) plays on offense.”
Peek said the North Jackson defense, which is allowing just 11.6 points per game, must limit big plays, a speciality for Plainview.
The Bears’s top offensive players are running back Jordan Fee, quarterback Gabe Graham and receiver Josh Kidd. Plainview, which is averaging 38.7 points per game, also features “an offensive line that is outstanding,” Peek said.
Fee ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns against Fairview before leaving with a hip injury. Plainview coach Dale Pruitt told the Fort Payne Times-Journal that Fee was “day-to-day” this week. Graham was 13 of 16 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Graham also ran for a touchdown.
North Jackson’s offense struggled for most of the win against Guntersville, committing four turnovers and bogging down on what looked to be promising drives. The Chiefs’ offense did answer when it had to the most, and Peek said more consistency is a must this week.
Jackson County schools were on fall break Monday-Wednesday. And while many coaches dislike veering from their team’s normal routine, Peek said the Chiefs have made the best of it.
“It’s been a positive thing for us. We’ve practiced in the mornings and they were pretty good. We still practice the same amount of time, but being out of school, it allowed us to watch a little more film together and talk more about schemes,” Peek said.
A win for North Jackson over Plainview coupled with a Fairview loss to Guntersville would clinch another region championship for the Chiefs.
But Peek said the only scoreboard watching the Chiefs will be doing tonight is of the one at R.D. Hicks Stadium.
“We’ve just got to come out and take care of ourselves, this week and next week,” Peek said. “If we lose, it creates a big log jam at the top (of the region) and then you have to start rooting for this team and that. The easiest thing to do is take care of yourself.
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