WhitehouseTexas.com

The Jacksonville Indians defense will face a major test this week when the Whitehouse Wildcats and running back Luke Shivers come to the Tomato Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Jacksonville (4-2 overall, 2-0 in District 17-4A) has allowed 663 yards on the ground this season. The Indians are allowing an average of 110.5 yards rushing per game.

Whitehouse (4-2, 2-1) has been lead by Shivers, who has rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns on 115 carries this season.

Jacksonville head coach Randy Copeland said trying to stop Shivers is in the game plan, but Whitehouse has multiple rushing threats.

�They are not just a one running back team,� Copeland said. �They have other kids that can run too. We need to shut down their running game and force them to do what they don’t want to do and I think that is throwing the ball.

�As far as just shutting down one of the running backs, if you do that and you let the other ones run, you are still in trouble.�

If Jacksonville can force Whitehouse to pass, safeties Kiara Cook and Kendara Hall will look to capitalize on mistakes in reads or errant pass attempts.

Cook leads the Indians defense with four interceptions on the year with one returned for a touchdown. He also has 17 tackles on the year. Hall has one interception, but he leads the team with 40 tackles.

The Indians come into the game with a successful running attack as well.

Carmon Boyd-Anderson rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries last week and he caught a screen pass for a 48-yard touchdown. With his performance last week, Boyd-Anderson brings his season rushing totals to 559 yards and 12 touchdowns on 100 carries.

Copeland credited much of his team’s offensive success last week to his offensive line. He said their performance gives his team confidence heading into this week’s game.

�Any time your offense plays well, your offense plays well,� Copeland said. �The thing that we have to do is keep those 11 guys on offense clicking together and move the ball. As long as we do that, we are going to be fine.�

Jacksonville has been out of school this week, which has given their players a chance to rest and concentrate on preparing for Whitehouse.

�We have had our regular practices, and we have had some good ones,� Copeland said. �Hopefully, that reflects and helps us play a good game Friday night.�

The Wildcats have had some distractions this week with the threat of forfeitures hanging over them. It has been reported that Whitehouse has had an ineligible player playing for them and the situation is being reviewed.

Copeland said the situation could be a distraction for the Wildcats, but it could also be a motivational tool.

�I don’t know how it will affect them,� Copeland said. �It could be an inspiration, we’ll just have to wait and see.�

Copeland said Whitehouse is much improved from a year ago and that they play similar to Hallsville.

�They are well coached,� Copeland said. �Our guys read the papers. They know that Whitehouse has improved, and we are going to go out there and play to win.�

The Indians will look to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in district with a win. Jacksonville and Whitehouse kickoff at 7:30 p.m.