It's not my habit to write and/or talk a lot about me. The focus of these newsletters is supposed to be the student-athletes and coaches.
You're going to have to indulge me every once in a while. And this is one of those times.
We're putting the band back together.
The 25th season of Jackson County Central football starts Thursday when the Huskies host Maple River.
I'll be in the press box on the east side of Swearingen Field and Dave Schmidt will be next to me.
And you'll be able to listen to us for that game and all of the JCC football games this season on 106.5 Lakes FM (KFMC). Pregame is at 6:45 p.m., with kickoff at 7 p.m.
If my math is right, this will be the 256th Jackson County Central football game. It will be my 253rd.
It's quite likely that the only person who has seen more JCC football games than I have is Tom Schuller.
Deb Schuller would be right there too, but she missed some when Stacey was playing volleyball at Dakota State.
Charlie Clarksean is right up there as well, but he missed a couple of games at harvest time when he was farming.
Wade Wacker would be in the mix, but he went to watch Lacey play volleyball at Northwestern on a number of game nights for the Huskies.
Feel free to let me know if you or someone you know has a better attendance record and you might see them in a future newsletter.
The games I've missed?
Nov. 8, 2013: A first-round state Class 2A loss to Chatfield in Rochester.
I'd hoped to make that game Martin County West's match at the state volleyball tournament. But, the Mavericks went five sets in a win over Carlton and it just didn't seem prudent to trust Highway 52 traffic on a Friday night to get there in time for kickoff so Terry Wheeler and Doug Johnson handled that game and I listened on my computer in my hotel room.
Nov. 7, 2015: A 30-14 win over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in the state Class 3A semifinals. That was one of the years the football season was moved up after the Metrodome was torn down and U.S. Bank Stadium was ready for an indoor place to play football. MCW was playing in the championship match of the Section 3AA volleyball tournament that night so I went to Marshall for that, while Dave and Terry went to Maple Grove for the football game.
Luckily the Huskies won the football game that day and I was at TCF Bank Stadium the next week for the state championship game vs. Pierz.
Sept. 9, 2016: A 19-18 win at Pipestone.
Somehow, oldest daughter Jenna wasn't paying attention while she was growing up and didn't realize that Fridays in September are kind of a big deal around here and decided to get married to John that night.
I grumbled about it then and I continue to grumble about it to this day. But, it was a great night. And the three grandkids (Maren, Porter, Calvin) are wonderful and that's a blessing.
Enough about me. Put the focus back on the student-athletes, coaches and parents. It's going to be a fun season. If you can't make it, you can listen on Lakes 106.5 and read about it later here on Sports Rx.
Here's the entire JCC regular-season football schedule:
Thurs., Sept. 2 - Maple River, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 10 - Luverne, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 17 - at Blue Earth Area, 7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 24 - Windom, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 1 - at Redwood Valley, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 8 - Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 15 - at Pipestone, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 20 - at St. Peter, 7 p.m.
And you can look back at the score of every football game JCC has played since becoming a school district in 1997.
2020 (4-3)
Blue Earth Area 45, Jackson County Central 14
Jackson County Central 32, Windom 8
Luverne 32, Jackson County Central 0
Redwood Valley 28, Jackson County Central 14
Jackson County Central 16, Pipestone 7
Jackson County Central 22, Fairmont 7
Jackson County Central 28, Worthington 6
2019 (11-1)
Jackson County Central 46, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 0
Jackson County Central 76, Worthington 6
Jackson County Central 48, Martin County West 3
Jackson County Central 49, Redwood Valley 12
Jackson County Central 73, Windom 7
Jackson County Central 20, Blue Earth Area 15
Jackson County Central 36, Pipestone 6
Jackson County Central 60, St. James Area 13
Jackson County Central 35, Luverne 0
Jackson County Central 36, Fairmont 12
Jackson County Central 31, Waseca 21
Pierz 20, Jackson County Central 14
2018 (9-2)
Jackson County Central 56, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 7
Jackson County Central 33, Luverne 0
Jackson County Central 47, Blue Earth Area 7
Jackson County Central 51, Windom 0
Jackson County Central 61, Martin County West 21
Redwood Valley 7, Jackson County Central 0
Jackson County Central 67, St. James Area 17
Jackson County Central 14, Pipestone 13
Jackson County Central 42, Sibley East 8
Jackson County Central 30, Tri-City United 9
Fairmont 35, Jackson County Central 18
2017 (8-3)
Jackson County Central 34, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 8
Jackson County Central 34, Luverne 8
Blue Earth Area 18, Jackson County Central 6
Jackson County Central 48, Windom 27
Jackson County Central 35, Martin County West 0
Jackson County Central 26, Redwood Valley 24
Jackson County Central 40, St. James Area 6
Pipestone 35, Jackson County Central 18
Jackson County Central 37, St. Peter 27
Jackson County Central 28, Tri-City United 6
Fairmont 29, Jackson County Central 21
2016 (10-1)
Jackson County Central 18, Maple River 13
Jackson County Central 19, Pipestone 18
Jackson County Central 28, Luverne 21
Jackson County Central 26, Blue Earth Area 20 (OT)
Jackson County Central 49, Windom 13
Jackson County Central 62, Martin County West 23
Jackson County Central 35, Redwood Valley 7
Jackson County Central 34, St. James Area 0
Jackson County Central 42, Sibley East 14
Jackson County Central 21, Fairmont 14
Rochester Lourdes 30, Jackson County Central 0
2015 (10-3)
Maple River 17, Jackson County Central 15
Pipestone 15, Jackson County Central 14
Jackson County Central 57, Luverne 7
Jackson County Central 55, Blue Earth Area 25
Jackson County Central 58, Windom 21
Jackson County Central 69, Martin County West 6
Jackson County Central 49, Redwood Valley 7
Jackson County Central 61, St. James Area 3
Jackson County Central 44, Sibley East 13
Jackson County Central 35, Fairmont 12
Jackson County Central 44, St. Croix Lutheran 26
Jackson County Central 30, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 14
Pierz 36, Jackson County Central 8
2014 (6-4)
Jackson County Central 43, Fairmont 20
Luverne 13, Jackson County Central 0
Jackson County Central 31, St. Peter 14
Marshall 42, Jackson County Central 13
Jackson County Central 56, St. James 0
Jackson County Central 33, Windom 0
Pipestone 42, Jackson County Central 40
Jackson County Central 41, Redwood Valley 12
Jackson County Central 23, Luverne 16
Pipestone 42, Jackson County Central 16
2013 (10-2)
Jackson County Central 21, St. Louis Park 7
Foley 42, Jackson County Central 7
Jackson County Central 26, Redwood Valley 2
Jackson County Central 34, Pipestone 6
Jackson County Central 39, Luverne 13
Jackson County Central 35, Marshall 14
Jackson County Central 42, Windom 7
Jackson County Central 44, Worthington 23
Jackson County Central 56, St. James Area 0
Jackson County Central 51, Martin County West 12
Jackson County Central 23, Maple River 7
Chatfield 32, Jackson County Central 6
2012 (10-3)
Jackson County Central 59, Virginia 6
Jackson County Central 48, Worthington 0
Luverne 28, Jackson County Central 14
Marshall 42, Jackson County Central 20
Jackson County Central 49, Redwood Valley 28
Jackson County Central 39, West Central, S.D. 14
Jackson County Central 22, Pipestone 6
Jackson County Central 31, Windom 20
Jackson County Central 67, Windom 13
Jackson County Central 49, Maple River 15
Jackson County Central 35, Luverne 28
Jackson County Central 51, Mayer Lutheran 20
Moose Lake-Willow River 27, Jackson County Central 20
2011 (7-3)
Jackson County Central 20, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 0
Jackson County Central 31, Worthington 6
Jackson County Central 35, Luverne 0
Marshall 44, Jackson County Central 6
Jackson County Central 42, Redwood Valley 13
West Central, S.D. 47, Jackson County Central 7
Jackson County Central 41, Pipestone 6
Jackson County Central 46, Windom 0
Jackson County Central 43, Pipestone 13
Luverne 12, Jackson County Central 0
2010 (9-2)
Jackson County Central 26, New Ulm 12
Jackson County Central 51, Worthington 21
Luverne 10, Jackson County Central 9
Jackson County Central 27, Marshall 17
Jackson County Central 46, Redwood Valley 6
Jackson County Central 27, West Central, S.D. 13
Jackson County Central 41, Pipestone 0
Jackson County Central 29, Windom 0
Jackson County Central 48, St. James Area 0
Jackson County Central 42, Windom 0
Luverne 35, Jackson County Central 23
2009 (9-2)
Jackson County Central 35, New Ulm 8
Jackson County Central 37, Worthington 0
Jackson County Central 20, Luverne 7
Jackson County Central 35, Marshall 6
Jackson County Central 33, Redwood Valley 20
West Central, S.D. 22, Jackson County Central 20
Jackson County Central 12, Pipestone 0
Jackson County Central 17, Windom 0
Jackson County Central 27, St. James Area 6
Jackson County Central 30, Windom 3
Luverne 21, Jackson County Central 17
2008 (5-4)
Jackson County Central 10, Blue Earth Area 7
Luverne 27, Jackson County Central 11
Marshall 36, Jackson County Central 15
Jackson County Central 35, Redwood Valley 13
Vermillion, S.D. 30, Jackson County Central 21
Jackson County Central 20, Pipestone 0
Jackson County Central 24, Windom 17
Jackson County Central 31, Worthington 28
Windom 18, Jackson County Central 13
2007 (8-3)
Jackson County Central 27, Blue Earth Area 18
Luverne 39, Jackson County Central 13
Marshall 39, Jackson County Central 19
Jackson County Central 15, Redwood Valley 13
Jackson County Central 24, Vermillion, S.D. 15
Jackson County Central 42, Pipestone 13
Jackson County Central 45, Windom 21
Jackson County Central 26, Worthington 7
Jackson County Central 40, Windom 7
Jackson County Central 37, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 29
Luverne 27, Jackson County Central 6
2006 (9-2)
Jackson County Central 28, Windom 14
Jackson County Central 20, Waseca 3
Jackson County Central 39, Blue Earth Area 12
Jackson County Central 23, Worthington 8
Fairmont 33, Jackson County Central 22
Jackson County Central 19, New Ulm 8
Jackson County Central 48, Luverne 28
Jackson County Central 31, Redwood Valley 13
Jackson County Central 54, Montevideo 22
Jackson County Central 43, Fairmont 14
Blue Earth Area 24, Jackson County Central 21
2005 (3-6)
Windom 55, Jackson County Central 14
Jackson County Central 43, Waseca 13
Blue Earth Area 32, Jackson County Central 13
Worthington 23, Jackson County Central 13
Fairmont 36, Jackson County Central 8
Jackson County Central 36, New Ulm 6
Luverne 28, Jackson County Central 16
Jackson County Central 42, Redwood Valley 14
Maple River 7, Jackson County Central 0
2004 (5-4)
Jackson County Central 24, Blue Earth Area 8
Jackson County Central 31, Redwood Valley 28
Worthington 36, Jackson County Central 28
Pipestone 28, Jackson County Central 0
Jackson County Central 35, Luverne 10
Jackson County Central 36, Crosby-Ironton 14
Windom 28, Jackson County Central 21
Jackson County Central 18, Marshall 13
Pipestone 27, Jackson County Central 8
2003 (10-1)
Jackson County Central 20, Blue Earth Area 6
Jackson County Central 27, Marshall 7
Jackson County Central 18, Redwood Valley 15
Jackson County Central 16, Fergus Falls 13
Jackson County Central 28, Pipestone 14
Jackson County Central 27, Windom 6
Jackson County Central 28, Worthngton 14
Jackson County Central 30, Luverne 14
Jackson County Central 47, Montevideo 14
Jackson County Central 28, Minnewaska 0
Redwood Valley 19, Jackson County Central 6
2002 (7-3)
Jackson County Central 25, Blue Earth Area 6
Marshall 21, Jackson County Central 18
Jackson County Central 34, Redwood Valley 30
Jackson County Central 21, Fergus Falls 20 (OT)
Jackson County Central 30, Pipestone 0
Jackson County Central 63, Windom 27
Worthington 35, Jackson County Central 14
Jackson County Central 28, Luverne 6
Jackson County Central 28, St. Peter 6
LeSueur-Henderson 22, Jackson County Central 16 (OT)
2001 (13-1)
Jackson County Central 40, Blue Earth Area 14
Jackson County Central 35, Marshall 0
Redwood Valley 22, Jackson County Central 15
Jackson County Central 55, Hill-Murray 28
Jackson County Central 34, Pipestone-Jasper 6
Jackson County Central 20, Windom 15
Jackson County Central 35, Worthington 26
Jackson County Central 21, Luverne 13
Jackson County Central 22, LeSueur-Henderson 18
Jackson County Central 21, St. Peter 0
Jackson County Central 21, Kasson-Mantorville 0
Jackson County Central 20, BOLD 7
Jackson County Central 33, Lake City 0
Jackson County Central 42, Becker 7
2000 (10-1)
Jackson County Central 21, Blue Earth Area 17
Jackson County Central 38, Redwood Valley 0
Jackson County Central 37, Adrian 13
Jackson County Central 10, Pipestone-Jasper 0
Jackson County Central 42, Windom 14
Jackson County Central 23, Worthington 7
Jackson County Central 27, Luverne 0
Jackson County Central 44, Marshall 19
Jackson County Central 38, Maple River 6
Jackson County Central 27, Blue Earth Area 15
Glencoe-Silver Lake 12, Jackson County Central 10
1999 (8-3)
Jackson County Central 48, Blue Earth Area 25
Jackson County Central 47, Redwood Valley 24
Jackson County Central 27, Adrian 26
Jackson County Central 28, Pipestone-Jasper 10
Windom 34, Jackson County Central 27
Worthington 42, Jackson County Central 20
Jackson County Central 18, Luverne 6
Jackson County Central 34, Marshall 7
Jackson County Central 39, LeSueur-Henderson 15
Jackson County Central 49, Glencoe-Silver Lake 15
St. Peter 36, Jackson County Central 28
1998 (12-2)
Jackson County Central 22, Blue Earth Area 6
Jackson County Central 43, Yellow Medicine East 7
Jackson County Central 35, Pipestone-Jasper 6
Jackson County Central 22, Windom 7
Worthington 27, Jackson County Central 7
Jackson County Central 20, Luverne 14
Jackson County Central 28, Marshall 10
Jackson County Central 49, Redwood Valley 0
Jackson County Central 61, Sibley East 12
Jackson County Central 44, LeSueur-Henderson 6
Jackson County Central 28, Glencoe-Silver Lake 7
Jackson County Central 27, Kasson-Mantorville 19
Jackson County Central 23, Delano 7
Foley 21, Jackson County Central 7
1997 (13-1)
Jackson County Central 28, Blue Earth Area 21
Jackson County Central 40, United South Central 14
Jackson County Central 34, Pipestone-Jasper 0
Jackson County Central 27, Windom 0
Jackson County Central 19, Worthington 0
Jackson County Central 6, Luverne 0
Jackson County Central 31, Marshall 0
Jackson County Central 20, Redwood Valley 14
Jackson County Central 45, Montgomery-Lonsdale 0
Jackson County Central 35, Blue Earth Area 0
Jackson County Central 24, Glencoe-Silver Lake 0
Jackson County Central 23, Lake City 21
Jackson County Central 35, St. Michael-Albertville 15
Albany 55, Jackson County Central 7