Over 3,000 yards and over 300 points.
That’s what the Trinity Christian School Crusaders, the defending Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Class AA state champions, have done so far this season.
And one young man has accounted for over 60 percent of those totals.
Colby Jackson is his name.
The Crusaders, 7-1 and currently ranked second in the latest GISA coaches’ poll, bring the ‘Colby Jackson Show’ to Statesboro tonight to face Bulloch Academy in a pivotal Region 2-AA contest at Gator Alley.
Jackson looks more like a mammoth Division I linebacker than a high-school running back. He has rushed for an incredible 1,834 yards and 31 touchdowns on just 131 carries. Jackson is the total package for Trinity with speed, strength, agility and durability. He has been known to actually leap over the line of scrimmage and would-be tacklers.
“Colby has the ability to not only run over you but has good open-field moves to go around you,” said Bulloch Academy head coach Clint Morgan. “He has offers on the table from Georgia Southern, North Carolina State, Louisville, Auburn, Air Force and two other big-name schools. I told the guys that they have the opportunity of a lifetime tonight, which is to face somebody who will play big-time college football.”
But it isn’t all Jackson.
“Coach (Steve) Price (Trinity’s head coach) says that they have the best line that they’ve had since he’s been at Trinity,” said Morgan. “Couple that with Colby’s physical abilities and you’ve got a pretty potent combination. Colby is definitely the heart and soul of Trinity’s football team but they have several other weapons that we’ve seen.”
The Crusaders, according to Morgan, use a Pro-I offensive set and have kept the ball on the ground 88 percent of the time.
“They run a lot of isolations but they also run sweeps very well,” he said. “There is a pretty good mixture of inside and outside in their running game.”
The question is, will the Gator defense, which has allowed only 1,004 yards rushing and 60 points through eight games, be up to the task of stopping the mighty Jackson and company?
“Our goal is to hit him as many times as we can and hit him hard,” said Morgan. “We can’t give up the big plays. We’ve got to play good technique.”
Linebackers Ethan Lovett and Michael Deloach lead the charge in the Bulloch’s 50 series defense. Lovett has 33 solo tackles, 21 assists, six tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries while Deloach has 32 individuals, 30 assists four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Other Gator defensive leaders are Nathan Brown (31, 36), Ben Newton (28, 18) and Michael Kimbrell (25, 23).
Defensively, Jackson leads the Crusaders from a linebacker spot in their 50 series.
“Colby is the strong-side linebacker,” said Morgan. “I think he’ll go to college as an outside linebacker.”
Bulloch’s triple-option, behind senior quarterback Jordan Walker, has put up some good offensive numbers (2,481 total yards and 239 points). But Trinity’s defense has been pretty stout, allowing just 1,334 total yards and 93 points through eight games.
“We’ve got to be able to control the clock,” said Morgan. “We’ve got to have those long, sustained drives to keep their offense off the field. Also, we’ve definitely got to keep them off-balance.”
Walker leads the Gators with 752 yards and 10 touchdowns while Lovett, at wingback, has 559 yards and six TDs. Walker has another 10 scores through the air, completing 33-of-71 passes for 505 yards. Darion Carter has been his favorite target of late, catching 12 balls for 250 yards and six touchdowns, but Lovett has nine catches for 79 yards and two scores while Will Powell has eight grabs for 108 yards and a TD.
Both Bulloch (7-1) and Trinity are undefeated in region play. The Crusaders have thrashed both Memorial Day School and Windsor Academy while the Gators have crushed Edmund Burke Academy.
“For us, it’s the first big step toward winning the region championship,” said Morgan, “but for them, it is the region championship."
That’s what the Trinity Christian School Crusaders, the defending Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Class AA state champions, have done so far this season.
And one young man has accounted for over 60 percent of those totals.
Colby Jackson is his name.
The Crusaders, 7-1 and currently ranked second in the latest GISA coaches’ poll, bring the ‘Colby Jackson Show’ to Statesboro tonight to face Bulloch Academy in a pivotal Region 2-AA contest at Gator Alley.
Jackson looks more like a mammoth Division I linebacker than a high-school running back. He has rushed for an incredible 1,834 yards and 31 touchdowns on just 131 carries. Jackson is the total package for Trinity with speed, strength, agility and durability. He has been known to actually leap over the line of scrimmage and would-be tacklers.
“Colby has the ability to not only run over you but has good open-field moves to go around you,” said Bulloch Academy head coach Clint Morgan. “He has offers on the table from Georgia Southern, North Carolina State, Louisville, Auburn, Air Force and two other big-name schools. I told the guys that they have the opportunity of a lifetime tonight, which is to face somebody who will play big-time college football.”
But it isn’t all Jackson.
“Coach (Steve) Price (Trinity’s head coach) says that they have the best line that they’ve had since he’s been at Trinity,” said Morgan. “Couple that with Colby’s physical abilities and you’ve got a pretty potent combination. Colby is definitely the heart and soul of Trinity’s football team but they have several other weapons that we’ve seen.”
The Crusaders, according to Morgan, use a Pro-I offensive set and have kept the ball on the ground 88 percent of the time.
“They run a lot of isolations but they also run sweeps very well,” he said. “There is a pretty good mixture of inside and outside in their running game.”
The question is, will the Gator defense, which has allowed only 1,004 yards rushing and 60 points through eight games, be up to the task of stopping the mighty Jackson and company?
“Our goal is to hit him as many times as we can and hit him hard,” said Morgan. “We can’t give up the big plays. We’ve got to play good technique.”
Linebackers Ethan Lovett and Michael Deloach lead the charge in the Bulloch’s 50 series defense. Lovett has 33 solo tackles, 21 assists, six tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries while Deloach has 32 individuals, 30 assists four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Other Gator defensive leaders are Nathan Brown (31, 36), Ben Newton (28, 18) and Michael Kimbrell (25, 23).
Defensively, Jackson leads the Crusaders from a linebacker spot in their 50 series.
“Colby is the strong-side linebacker,” said Morgan. “I think he’ll go to college as an outside linebacker.”
Bulloch’s triple-option, behind senior quarterback Jordan Walker, has put up some good offensive numbers (2,481 total yards and 239 points). But Trinity’s defense has been pretty stout, allowing just 1,334 total yards and 93 points through eight games.
“We’ve got to be able to control the clock,” said Morgan. “We’ve got to have those long, sustained drives to keep their offense off the field. Also, we’ve definitely got to keep them off-balance.”
Walker leads the Gators with 752 yards and 10 touchdowns while Lovett, at wingback, has 559 yards and six TDs. Walker has another 10 scores through the air, completing 33-of-71 passes for 505 yards. Darion Carter has been his favorite target of late, catching 12 balls for 250 yards and six touchdowns, but Lovett has nine catches for 79 yards and two scores while Will Powell has eight grabs for 108 yards and a TD.
Both Bulloch (7-1) and Trinity are undefeated in region play. The Crusaders have thrashed both Memorial Day School and Windsor Academy while the Gators have crushed Edmund Burke Academy.
“For us, it’s the first big step toward winning the region championship,” said Morgan, “but for them, it is the region championship."
