Jackson caps off undefeated season with Class 5 title

The Jackson football program went into the 2019 Missouri Class 5 championship game with an undefeated record and seeking its first state championship, but fell short of its goal with a heartbreaking overtime loss to Carthage. Coach Brent Eckley’s squad would not be denied in their quest this season. With the disappointment of that championship game loss behind them, Eckley’s Jackson capped off a dominant 2020 campaign by defeating Platte County 42-7 on Saturday to cap off an undefeated season with the school’s first state championship. Here’s a quick look at some of the standouts from the Class 5 title game... <strong>JACKSON (14-0) </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37168" first="Connor" last="Tollison"], OL, 6-5, 310, Class of 2021</strong> You can’t miss Tollison on a football field. The University of Missouri recruit, who was rated as the 16th-best prospect in Missouri the Class of 2021 in the preseason rankings, immediately stands out for his impressive size. Tollison is generally the biggest and baddest dude on the field and has been an anchor for one of the best programs in the state for the past two seasons. Tollison and the impressive offensive line helped Jackson rack up 418 total yards, averaging 7.1 yards per play, in the title game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37266" first="Daniel" last="Dickerson"], RB, 5-11, 205, Class of 2021</strong> Many of those total yards came on the ground from the fleet-footed sprinter Dickerson, who rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He kicked off the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 3-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth. Dickerson finished his senior season with 1,230 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/6257402/5f6692b80c543f007cf04655" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37241" first="Cael" last="Welker"], QB, 5-11, 185, Class of 2021</strong> A dual-threat quarterback, Welker didn’t have to use his running skills much against Platte County with Dickerson doing most of the damage on the ground. Instead, he showed off his arm, ability to read defenses and make good decisions in completing 15 of 19 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a 1-yard touchdown run. Yes, Welker is undersized. But he’s proven to be a competitor and a winner in leading Jackson to a 27-1 record over his final two seasons. <strong>Kannen Turley, WR, 5-11, 170, Class of 2022</strong> The first junior on this list, Turley showed off his playmaking skills with four receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the championship game. He had a 41-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter where he got open down the middle of the field and then out-ran a defender to the end zone. He added a 10-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter on a nice out route with a toe touch near the pylon. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37544" first="Ashton" last="Flinn"], OL, 6-4, 275, Class of 2022</strong> The bookend to Tollison at right tackle, Flinn will be a prospect to watch as recruiting for the Class of 2022 heats up in the next few weeks. He’s got the size colleges covet and his film shows that he can get out and move and has a propensity for finishing his blocks with a vengeance. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/7993323/5f98d07619a6d40660bd0ccb" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>PLATTE COUNTY (12-2)</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37211" first="Collin" last="Tyson"], DB, 6-0, 180, Class of 2021</strong> Not a lot went right for Platte County in the championship game, but Tyson was a standout on the defensive side of the ball. The Eastern Illinois commit recorded a team-high nine tackles, including two for losses, from his safety spot. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8783516/5fc58e62f327b70654e3f5e4" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>