Jackson scouting report: Century-old football identity still solidly in place at Jackson

JACKSON — Let’s play a little word association.
Jackson — Ironmen.
Red — White.
Offense — Bruising.
Defense — Suffocating.
While lots of teams search for an identity, Jackson has kept its for over 100 years.
When Logan and Jackson meet at Logan Chieftain Stadium on Friday night, it once again will have major SEOAL championship and playoff implications.
Logan’s impressive offensive output gives this game a true “Unstoppable Force” versus Jackson’s “Immovable Object.”
Jackson will line up in a 3-3 stack defense, highlighted by a quick athletic defensive line and stout linebackers. Through the spine, the defense features the play of noseguard Billy Cooper (6-0, 205, junior), linebacker Raymon Potter (6-2, 225, junior) and free safety Collin Massie (5-11, 190, senior).
Jackson’s defense is allowing only 165 yards per game, including an astoundingly low 2.66 yards per carry and 4.46 yards per pass attempt. Jackson has allowed only 13.5 points per game.
Joining Cooper up front are Codey Roseberry (6-1, 240, junior) and Luke Fulton (5-11, 174, senior). Caden Frisby (5-9, 176, junior) adds depth.
Potter will play middle linebacker and direct the defense. He is joined by Tre Barger (6-0, 235, senior) and Hunter Sexton (5-11, 215, senior) with Kendall Neal (5-11, 195, sophomore) rotating as well.
Rhys Jones (5-9, 166, senior) and Bryce Hall (6-0, 188, junior) play the double strong safety spots. Reagin Conley (6-2, 204, senior), Blake McCoy (5-9, 162, sophomore), and Austin Edwards (6-0, 189, senior) will all rotate at cornerback with Massie in his free safety role.
On offense, the year of the quarterback continues. Sexton, a Marshall University baseball commit, will pilot the Big Red offense.
The three-year starter has rushed for 326 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries. Sexton has completed 27 of 72 passes for 359 yards with four touchdowns compared to six interceptions. He continues a long line of option-style quarterbacks at Jackson High School.
Jackson will line up in multiple formations, similar to last week’s opponent, Shadyside. The Ironmen will line up with three backs and an unbalanced line on one series, and then answer with four wide receivers and a single back alongside Sexton on the next series.
Against Warren last Friday, the Red and White used Johnny Farley and McCoy as slot backs, using jet sweeps to get the two speedsters out on the edge.
Hall — son of head coach Andy Hall — may also see time under center, giving the Ironmen more of a traditional pro-style quarterback. Hall has completed 11 of 15 passes for 131 yards with one score and one interception.
Farley (5-8, 165, junior) is the team’s leading rusher with 394 yards and four scores on 63 carries. McCoy is averaging more than nine-and-a-half yards per carry (35 carries for 333) with three touchdowns.
Conley (23 carries, 168 yards, 4 TDs) will see time at fullback.
Massie and Potter will play as H-backs, lining up at tight end or fullback. Potter has 225 yards of total offense while Massie adds 117 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.
Austin Leach (6-0, 166, senior) is a talented, athletic receiver. His 13 catches for 224 yards and three scores leads the Ironmen. Neal will line up as a tight end and adds five catches for 41 yards and a score.
Up front, Chucky Morris (6-3, 260, sophomore) and Elijah Woolum (6-4, 280, senior) are the tackles with Barger and Roseberry playing guard. Cooper is the center. Woolum is attracting interest from Division I schools.
Sheldon Moore (5-11, 188, senior) will do the kicking. He has converted 19 of 21 PATs and has kicked three field goals. Moore’s big leg often takes kick returns off the table through touchbacks. Roseberry will handle the punting chores.
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Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Chiefs’ opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News. And you can once again listen to Logan Chieftain football live on the Internet Friday night by logging onto loganfootball.com, where Waugh and Kevin Dunigan will bring the play-by-play.