Every football season at Jackson County Central is highly anticipated. Still, the excitement for the start of the 2024 campaign is off the charts.
The Huskies return 16 starters (seven on offense and nine defense) from last year’s team that made a second straight appearance in the state Class AA semifinals. In that group are eight players who received mention on the preseason AA all-state team including the Player of the Year, junior Roman Voss.
Add to that the fact the team had what may be its best summer of off-season conditioning, the Huskies have a roster than includes 60-plus players and that the coaches and players alike are doing little to hide that this year’s goal is to win a state championship, and optimism is very high.
The season starts Friday with a 7 p.m. game vs. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial in Lake Crystal.
Here’s some details about the matchup:
Preseason all-state
Each team has players who have been named Class AA preseason all-state honors.
Jackson County Central
Roman Voss: Player of the Year, first team Athlete
Weston Rowe: first team offensive line
Ben Dahlin: first team wide receiver
Clay Malchow: second team running back, second team defensive back
Ian Titterington: second team linebacker
Tavion Diggs: third team linebacker
Caleb Haskin: honorable mention defensive line
Gage Johnson, honorable mention running back
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Nolan Nase, first team tight end, second team linebacker
Nathan Sickler, honorable mention quarterback
Series highlights
Series: Jackson County Central leads 5-0
Regular season: Jackson County Central leads 5-0
Postseason: Have not met
Scores
All-time scores in the JCC-LCWM series.
2017: Jackson County Central 36, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 0
2018: Jackson County Central 56, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 7
2021: Jackson County Central 34, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 8
2022: Jackson County Central 2, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 0 (forfeit)
2023: Jackson County Central 42, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 13
JCC football schedule
Fri., Aug. 30: at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 6: Worthington, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 13: at Blue Earth Area, 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21: LeSueur-Henderson, 2 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 27: at Redwood Valley, 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 5: Minnesota Valley Lutheran, 2 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 10: at Luverne, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 16: Pipestone, 7 p.m.
JCC connection
Jackson County Central graduate Brett Benson became Superintendent of Schools at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial on July 1.
He played football for the Huskies but is better remembered for his golf career, which included winning the state Class AA title in 2004.
Another season
Also starting on Friday is another season of the critically acclaimed “Yes, Nolan is Wearing Shorts.”
If you don’t already, follow me on Twitter (or X if you must) @sportsdr44
Season openers
JCC has a 23-4 record in season-opening games.
1997: Jackson County Central 28, Blue Earth Area 21
1998: Jackson County Central 22, Blue Earth Area 6
1999: Jackson County Central 48, Blue Earth Area 25
2000: Jackson County Central 21, Blue Earth Area 17
2001: Jackson County Central 40, Blue Earth Area 14
2002: Jackson County Central 25, Blue Earth Area 6
2003: Jackson County Central 20, Blue Earth Area 6
2004: Jackson County Central 24, Blue Earth Area 8
2005: Windom 55, Jackson County Central 14
2006: Jackson County Central 28, Windom 14
2007: Jackson County Central 27, Blue Earth Area 18
2008: Jackson County Central 10, Blue Earth Area 7
2009: Jackson County Central 35, New Ulm 8
2010: Jackson County Central 26, New Ulm 12
2011: Jackson County Central 20, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 0
2012: Jackson County Central 59, Virginia 6
2013: Jackson County Central 21, St. Louis Park 7
2014: Jackson County Central 43, Fairmont 20
2015: Maple River 17, Jackson County Central 15
2016: Jackson County Central 18, Maple River 13
2017: Jackson County Central 34, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 8
2018: Jackson County Central 56, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 7
2019: Jackson County Central 49, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 0
2020: Blue Earth Area 45, Jackson County Central 14
2021: Maple River 35, Jackson County Central 8
2022: Jackson County Central 30, Maple River 27
2023: Jackson County Central 42, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 13
2024
South Central Silver District
Jackson County Central plays in the South Central Silver District during the regular season. Games this week for those teams:
Thursday, Aug. 29
Minnesota Valley Lutheran (0-0): at Sibley East (0-0)
Luverne (0-0): at Worthington (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 30
Jackson County Central (0-0): at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (0-0)
Pipestone (0-0): at Blue Earth Area (0-0)
Redwood Valley (0-0): at LeSueur-Henderson (0-0)
Section 3AA
Jackson County Central will play in Section 3AA in postseason play. Games this week for those teams:
Thursday, Aug. 29
Minnesota Valley Lutheran (0-0): at Sibley East (0-0)
Sibley East (0-0): vs. Minnesota Valley Lutheran (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 30
Jackson County Central (0-0): at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (0-0)
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (0-0) vs. Jackson County Central (0-0)
LeSueur-Henderson (0-0): vs. Redwood Valley (0-0)
Pipestone (0-0): at Blue Earth Area (0-0)
Redwood Valley (0-0): at LeSueur-Henderson (0-0)
Windom (0-0) vs. BOLD (0-0)