HS PREVIEW: North Jackson Hosts Ardmore

After their 49-6 win over the DAR Patriots last week, the top-ranked (Alabama Class 4A) Chiefs are now 2-0 for the season, 1-0 in Region 7 play. With impressive wins over the 6A Buckhorn Bucks (35-21) and DAR, North Jackson is riding high in 2007.

Both the offense and the defense are dominating and the stats bear that out. After two games, the Chiefs have racked up 802 total yards for an average of 401 yards per game, while holding their opponents to 189 total yards, an average of only 95 yards per game. Neither Buckhorn nor DAR was able to hit the century mark in total offense against the Chiefs.

The Chiefs' offense is led by junior tailback Ron Gary's 335 yards on 34 carries and four touchdowns, while the defense is headed up by D1 prospect, junior Tana Patrick. Patrick has 18 total tackles and recovered a fumble and continues to be the nemesis of the opponents' offense.

This week is Homecoming at NJHS, and the Chiefs will host the Ardmore Tigers in another Region 7 match up. The Tigers come into the game with a 1-1 record after defeating Elkmont 25-9 in the opening game and falling to East Lawrence 7-20 last week.

Ardmore has never beaten North Jackson since being moved into Region 7 in 2004, and will certainly be a huge underdog to the top-ranked Chiefs in this game. The Chiefs have averaged 49 points a game against Ardmore in the three previous meetings, so it will be an uphill battle for the Tigers who will play in the hostile confines of the Chiefs' R.D. Hicks Stadium to make matters even worse.

North Jackson has scored fast in its two previous games, taking an average of just 12 seconds after the offense takes the field. Against DAR, the Chiefs had 42 at the half, so it will be a monumental task for Ardmore to try and shackle the North Jackson offense at a time when the Chiefs are hitting on all cylinders.

Game time is 7:00 PM in Stevenson.

Class 4A Schedules and Scores

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