Jackson captures Wood Co. title over Edison

PARKERSBURG -- Jackson Middle School football coach Adam Jones described this year's journey as an emotional roller coaster.

Regardless of the ups and downs experienced by the Generals, they definitely closed the season on a high note after defeating Edison Middle School, 34-6, in the Wood County championship game at Thursday night at Stadium Field.

"It was an emotional roller coaster because we knew how good we could be -- we were just waiting for it to click with them," Jones said after Jackson ran the gauntlet and finished 6-0 in the Wood County Middle School League. "Today we see the reward."

Jackson quarterback Tyler Cameron closed out his middle school career throwing for 158 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing for another one.

Classmate and backfield mate Stephen Myers returned a kickoff return 79 yards for the Generals' first TD and churned out a game-high 93 yards on nine carries.

"Tyler is a three-year player -- I had to beg him to play in sixth grade and convince his mom to let him play," Jones said. "To see him grow and mature, and fall in love with the game is truly what my job is all about."

With all the offensive weapons Jackson threw at Edison, the Generals' defense stood their ground. In the second half alone, Jackson forced five turnovers out of a possible six Edison possessions with two fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

"We pride ourselves on defense," Jones said. "Everybody says we are an offensive team. At the beginning of the season once we got the pieces in place everything would fall and we have been lights out. I think in the last five weeks we have allowed 12 points. It's important to give my defensive coaches all the gratitude and all the praise."

Edison entered the contest as the No. 3 seed and kept its upset hopes alive against top-seeded Jackson going into halftime trailing 8-6.

The Eagles finished the campaign at 3-3 under coach Mike Rusk, who returned to the program three years ago with only 20 players on the roster.

"Now we are in the 30s and working with (Parkersburg South coach Nate Tanner) we want our program to grow so South can grow," Rusk said. "They are a great group of kids who play hard. They show up, work hard and play hard. We fought last week. We fought in the first half tonight.

"I'm just really proud of them. This is the first group of kids I've had as sixth, seventh and eighth graders. On a personal note, I am really going to miss them."

Edison's first possession resulted in its only points of the game. After James Lattea recovered a fumble on Jackson's opening possession and raced nearly half the distance of the field to the Generals' 11-yard line. the Eagles needed just three plays to find the end zone. Quarterback Xavier St. Andry completed a screen pass to Lattea just shy of the goal line and Lattea did the rest for a 6-0 Edison lead at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter.

Edison enjoyed the lead for all of 15 seconds. That's how much time elapsed between the time Myers received the ensuing kickoff and raced down the sidelines 79 yards for the TD. On the two-point try, Cole Sisk took the handoff and put Jackson in front to stay at 8-6.

A Jackson TD just prior to halftime was a sign of things to come. On the final series of the first half, the Generals marched 74 yards in seven plays -- capped by Cameron's 23-yard TD pass to Brady Thorn with just 14 seconds remaining.

"Getting to the championship game and winning it all felt good because sixth grade year we were terrible then last year we got to the championship game and got beat to finish second," Cameron said. "Putting in all that work finally paid off.

"I'm looking for a good future. I'm going to a few camps this summer and then coming here to Parkersburg."

Thorn caught a second TD pass -- this one for 43 yards -- to open the scoring in the second half as Edison failed to generate anything offensively. Early into the fourth quarter, Edison was limited to 2 yards of total offense with zero first downs as part of its second half numbers. Three possessions ended in turnovers as Jackson pulled away with additional touchdowns by Adam Craven on a 21-yard TD reception and Cameron's 1-yard TD run.

In addition to passing for 116 yards, Edison quarterback St. Andry also rushed for a team-high 25 yards.

"Jackson did a fantastic job capitalizing on our mistakes," Rusk said. "They are a great team. They do everything well.

"I wish I could those second-half turnovers were uncharacteristic of our team. Unfortunately, we've had issues with turnovers all year. If a coach knows how to fix that, please call me because it's something we practice every day.

"Jackson got that momentum and did a good job."

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com