Loss knocks Jacksonville out of playoffs
LARRY KRANTZ

The Jacksonville Indians' defensive line struggles to contain a Kilgore running back during Friday's 35-6 loss to the Kilgore Bulldogs. Though outscored 88-23 in the first three games of District 12-4A play, the Indian defense is allowing only 15.3 points per game. Jacksonville will try to turn the tide against the Nacogdoches Golden Dragons at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Tomato Bowl. PHOTO: MIKE CUMMINS

KILGORE - And just like that, the Jacksonville Indians are out of the playoff picture.

Outscored 88-23 in their first three District 12-4A games, perhaps it's for the best that the Indians can stop worrying about making the playoffs and use the four remaining games this season to focus on next season.

That preparation will certainly begin with finding ways to reduce turnovers, control the ball using long drives, and

eliminating opponents' big plays.

Reducing turnovers in and of itself might be the one area Jacksonville could use improvement.

District opponents Marshall, Whitehouse and Kilgore have all scored at least one defensive touchdown against Jacksonville, including two each in the past two weeks by Whitehouse and Kilgore.

That's 35 points scored by opponents' defenses, and toss in another kickoff return for a touchdown by Kilgore's special teams, and that's 42 points.

Taken away from the 88 total points scored against Jacksonville, gives opponents 46 points scored by offenses in three games, or an average of 15.3 points allowed per game.

Just over two touchdowns.

Not bad for a young defense that's showing signs of improvement each week.

In fact, it was Jacksonville's defense that set up the Indians' only score against Kilgore in last week's 35-6 loss.

Indians defenders stripped Bulldogs receiver Xavian Sanders of the ball after a 12-yard catch-and-run early in the first quarter, and Jack- sonville scored four plays later when Kyle Stacy threw an 8- yard touchdown pass to tight end Demarcus Sessions.

In fact, the Jacksonville offense, which has struggled, had six possessions in the game where it ran four plays or more.

Part of the Indians' ability to get past that first third-down was due to a more balanced offensive game plan that saw running back Chris Hall carry a season-high 20 times. His next-highest total is nine.

Hall bit off big chunks of yardage, gaining a combined 31 yards on two carries to help set up Sessions' touchdown, before the Bulldogs clamped down on him.

Stacy, who attempted a season high 20 passes, completed nine in spite of the fact that his favorite target, senior Kelvin Hall, only caught two for 24 yards.

Stacy spread the ball around, completing passes to six receivers in all, including a season-high three to Terrance Canady.

Sessions' touchdown was his first catch of the season.

I know what a homer I sound like when I say there's a lot to like about the Indians even though they're 1-5 overall and 0-3 in district.

But the fact that Sessions was in the game at all was worthy of note. Not for the player as much as his position - tight end.

Jacksonville started the season with a spread offense that didn't employ a tight end.

Experience has shown to this point that while the Indians may be capable of running that kind of offense in the future, it just may not be this year that it's successful.

A tight end in the lineup means the Indians are looking for extra blocking on some plays, meaning they're more committed to running the ball.

Chris Hall showed last week that he can carry 20 times in a game and have something left.

Lindsey has shown he can be effective even when his favorite receiver is doublecovered like Kelvin Hall was last week.

The defense held each of Kilgore's explosive running backs - Hakeem Colbert and Frank Reddic - under 100 yards.

It's the turnovers-turning into-touchdowns that are killing the Indians this season. The foundation for a good team is there.

Now out of the playoff picture, Jacksonville can focus on getting valuable game experience it can cash in on next season. Game Stats

SCORING BY QUARTER
Jacksonville	6	0	0	0	-	6
Kilgore	14	14	7	0	-	35

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
JACKSONVILLE -- Demarcus Sessions
8 pass from Kyle Stacy (kick blocked),
7:51
KILGORE -- Hakeem Colbert 1 run (Ryan
Bustin kick), 5:23
KILGORE -- Danny Smith blocked punt
return in end zone (Bustin kick), 3:39
Second Quarter
KILGORE -- Cody Murphy 52 interception
return (Bustin kick), 7:29
KILGORE -- Xavian Sanders 9 pass from
Eric King (Bustin kick), :44
Third Quarter
KILGORE -- Rick Thomas 1 run (Bustin
kick), 5:03

Jacksonville		Kilgore
FIRST DOWNS	9	11
Rushes-Yds.	28-79	36-241
Passing Yds.	60	63
Comp.-Att.-Int	9-20-1	6-12-0
Punts-Yds.	7-22.0	4-37.5
Fumbles-Lost	3-1	1-1
Penalties-Yds.	6-55	9-90

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING -- Jacksonville: Chris Hall 20-74, Paxton Lindsey 2-14, Kyle Stacy 6-(minus- 9); Kilgore: Hakeem Colbert 7-86, Frank Reddic 13-61, Kendrix Tillman 2-44, Matt Goff 4-16, Trevor Moon 1-12, Rick Thomas 3-9, Reggie Lawler 3-7, Weston Thomas 1-4, Sabit Bauta 1-2. PASSING -- Jacksonville: Stacy 9-20-1 60; Kilgore: Eric King 6-12-0 63. RECEIVING -- Jacksonville: Terrance Canady 3-12, Kelvin Hall 2-24, Demarcus Sessions 1-8, Clint Copeland 1-7, Corey Hamlett 1-7, Chris Hall 1-2; Kilgore: Xavian Sanders 3-28, Cody Murphy 2-35, Reddic 1-0.

graphic: Cherokeean Herald