Jackson does it all in Chatard’s sectional title win over Roncalli
By BEN FAHRBACH
ISL Photographer/Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS — Stan Jackson did it all in Chatard’s Sectional 22 championship victory over rival Roncalli on Friday night.
The senior kick returner, punt returner, gunner, cornerback and running back had a long touchdown run, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in Chatard’s 28-8 victory in a game played at Lawrence North.
Jackson helped the defense force a punt on Roncalli’s opening drive. On the first play from scrimmage for the Trojans, Jackson came in motion from the wide receiver position and took a pitch from quarterback Sam Gleaves. He then cut behind his lead blocker, fullback Paul Rudolph. With the end sealed by Rudolph and the inside sealed by the line, he tore up field for an 87-yard touchdown run. Jackson’s speed assured no one would catch him. Gleaves scored on a keeper for the two-point conversion to give Chatard an 8-0 lead.
Roncalli responded quickly. Quarterback Cam Smock pitched the ball to running back David Holtkamp, then Smock rolled out as a receiver and Holtkamp found him through the air for the score.
The only other points of the first half came on a spectacular Sam Jost run of about 40 yards. Jost broke two sure tackles as he knifed his way between the tackles and escaped for the long score.
The second half was where Jackson became a defensive force. Before he went on his tear, the offense scored a touchdown on a strong 17-yard run by Alex Kimack, putting the Trojans ahead 21-8.
On a Roncalli drive in the third quarter, tight end Danny Annee (7” taller and 29 pounds heavier than Jackson) broke free on a seam route. Jackson gave chase and as he was taking Annee down he stripped the ball loose, and the fumble was recovered by Chatard’s Justin Bennett.
After the punt Roncalli’s offense went back to work to again try and erase the deficit, that is until Jackson stepped in front of a pass, intercepted it and returned it 22 yards just across midfield. That led to the final score of the game, a spectacular 26-yard run by fullback Noah Schrader. Schrader was wrapped up, but before his knee touched turf, he stabbed the ground with his hand, shed the tackler, pivoted and took off running again.
Lost in Jackson’s performance was how Chatard nose tackle Michael Annee started the game. He himself was a force to be reckoned with. He had a sack and other tackles for loss. Then he came hobbling off the field in obvious pain. He went straight to the bench where medical staff and trainers inspected his foot. Annee’s foot had grown a ping pong ball swollen growth in the matter of minutes on the top of his foot. The early diagnosis of a foot sprain, but I was never able to confirm that.
In this game of attrition, Chatard also lost at least 2 others — receiver and return man Brian Ball to a bruised knee (he was in and out trying to play through the pain) and fullback Paul Rudolph to concussion-like symptoms.
