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Leopards ready for Jackson to silence foes

Hernando regains a powerful weapon as the quiet fullback returns to action tonight.

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published September 23, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - For most of the quarter-mile walk from the Leopards locker room to the practice field, fullback Fabian Jackson doesn't say much.

Brock Byrd has a lot to say, so does James Thomas.

Jackson just listens. Sometimes he'll laugh. He's quiet to begin with, but the recently activated Jackson also is feeling his way back into the team. He'll see his first action since Week 1 tonight against Dunnellon.

After rushing for more than 600 yards last year and 99 in the first quarter of Hernando's preseason game against South Sumter, Jackson was imbued with confidence, looking forward to a standout senior season. All that came to a halt as an ankle injury sidelined Jackson for most of the season.

"I've been taking it kind of hard," said Jackson in a whisper. "I just wanted to be out on the field, helping my team."

He has spent most of the season unable to share the weight of the losses or even feel truly a part of the triumphs. After Hernando's win against Lake Weir, coach Matt Smith had the team acknowledge Jackson.

"You know he wanted to be out there bad," Smith said. Jackson was standing in blue jean shorts, about 1 foot outside the team huddle, just beyond the fray.

Feeling as if you're not exactly in the mix can make a quiet guy almost mum, and, these days, Jackson isn't the most talkative. But Smith thinks that will change.

"He's not always as quiet as he is now," Smith said. "You'll see him get more talkative once he gets back in there and starts making his mark on the team."

Jackson's mark is a physical one.

The 220-pound back is a bruiser. A couple of times against South Sumter, it took defenders 2 or 3 yards after grabbing him before they finally dragged Jackson to the ground. He could really be a problem if he ever gets really amped up. Sometimes, even during games, he can be reserved.

"Too much so," Smith said. "I've been trying to get him out of that and teach him to be a little more intense."

This week of practice has been a good sign though. Smith said Jackson has been running the ball hard and the Leopards are anxious to have him back in the backfield.

They'll need access to all the offensive weapons they can get to combat Marion County's Dunnellon (4-0). The Tigers christened the 2005 season, drubbing Lecanto 48-20, and followed that with a 41-10 win over Crystal River. But Smith thinks tonight's contest might feature a different outcome, and at the very least, a closer one.

"I don't think Dunnellon's really been challenged this season," Smith said. "And we haven't put our best game together yet. I don't think we've shown the type of team we can be."

Hernando will try to counter Dunnellon's blazing speed with power and brawn. Jackson can definitely help with that.

And he's anxious to do so. When he's back on the field, lining up behind quarterback Kyle Sizemore, Jackson said he'll try to stay focused.

"I'll just be thinking about running low, getting through the hole and helping my team."

Win or lose he'll be a part of the team's fabric again. And who knows, he might even have something to say about it.

Vincent Thomas can be reached at vthomas@sptimes.com or 352 848-1430.

[Last modified September 23, 2005, 02:50:29]