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The Battle of the Unbeaten

Tigers and Wildcats prepare for war

POSTED 10/08/2008 - The game doesn’t get any bigger than this one, in fact if there were ever a moment when it was for all the marbles, this is it. The game that will most likely determine who will win the district and move on to post season play is Friday’s game between the Jackson Tigers and the Baker County Wildcats.

Jackson High School Principal Iranetta Wright showed her school spirit with an emphatic, "I expect us to win! Our boys are excited, they are hyped up and ready. We are an undefeated team and Baker County is undefeated. We are counting on an undefeated season and going all the way."

Both teams have a lot to lose. For Jackson seniors on the team, this is the last chance to win against a team they have already beaten four out of the last four tries. For Baker County, it’s a chance to win the district outright and not have to worry whether or not their title would be marred with an asterisk of a loss to Jackson along the way.

"Last year’s Baker County squad was by far the best team in the district - we were just fortunate to have beaten Baker last year, they just had a few miscues that’s all," said Jackson’s Head Coach Kevin Sullivan.

As for Baker’s recent success in the weight room (winning last year’s state championship) and how that investment transfers to the football field, Coach Sullivan noted, "That doesn’t really matter to us, we really can’t compete in weights in Duval County - besides, we have a pretty strong weight program ourselves."

"Offensively, we feel pretty solid about the nine returnee’s we have. It will be a battle between the offensive and defensive lines for sure… A war really."

On the flip side of the ball, Sullivan had this to offer about the Wildcat’s young offensive line. "Defensively, we bring our front seven back - we’ve played pretty solid against the run. I have to admit, I’m a little worried about their option - with all the facets they have running the ball, that can hurt you."

Full Back John Shellman #44, Quarterback/Free Safety Cory Addison #7, and Tail Back Chris Campbell #22

This year Jackson’s backfield is stacked with excellence on the field and in the classroom. Senior Quarterback and Free Safety Cory Addison #7 - at six foot one inches and 190 pounds possesses an impressive 4.45 speed in the 40 yard dash and a strong 3.0 GPA in the class room.

Already verbally committed to the University of South Carolina , Addison had the following to say about Darvin Ruise, his counterpart for Baker County. "He’s a pretty good athlete, but with our defense we should be able to hold them down."

Senior Full Back John Shellman #44 is five foot seven inches tall and weighs in at 190 pounds with a grinding 4.8 speed in the forty yard dash, maintains an impressive 3.9 GPA. "They are good on the front line, we are going to put our front line guys on them and do our job and block. I will just do my job as the full back."

Finally, senior Tail Back Chris Campbell #22 is five foot nine inches and weighs in at 185 pounds. He also breaks the 3.0 mark for his GPA and would love to consider continuing his education after high school. "As long as I hit the hole, I’ll be okay."

As for the Wildcat’s quickness in the defensive backfield Campbell had this to say, "I’m going to try and make them miss me and then get right through them.

Sullivan believes this will be an exciting atmosphere for both teams. "They’re going to have a lot of people and we are bringing a lot of people too." "Games like this one is why you coach and play the game."

Andrew Jackson High School is the oldest fully accredited high school in Duval County. It opened in 1927 and was originally an all-white school, but became integrated in 1970. It is

Andrew Jackson High School

named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson an important figure in the history of Florida, after whom the city of Jacksonville is also named.

Jackson is recognized for rapid change and constant improvement. When Duval County Schools were first being established, Jackson was on the verge of being disaccredited due to leaking roofs, cracks and window damage. These problems were fixed and the school now hosts magnet programs. Jackson's step team, People of Prosperity (an organization composed of the Brothers of Honor and Sisters of Integrity) participated in the Martin Luther King parade, along with AFJROTC. In 2007, Andrew Jackson High School celebrated its 80th anniversary.