Jay Neal
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
Many high schools across Texas can probably make a case that their schedule is among the toughest of the toughest.
The Jacksonville Indians are among those teams as the Tribe, who will be under the guidance of first-year head coach, Chris Taber, play only two schools — District 16-4A rivals Nacogdoches and Lindale — who are not predicted as playoff teams in 2012 according to Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine.
Jacksonville, who just missed qualifying for post season play a year ago after posting a 4-6 record, opens the year on Aug. 31 by visiting Carthage, Texas Football's No. 3-ranked team in Class 3-A.
A week later the Tribe open the home portion of its schedule by renewing a rivalry with Palestine.
The Wildcats wound up 7-4 last year and are predicted to be the District 19-3A champions this fall.
The Indians and the 'Cats last met in 2009.
Sep. 14 will find Jacksonville visiting Gilmer, a team that returns just nine starters, but is, nevertheless, expected to be at the top of the District 16-3A rankings when the smoke clears in early November.
Seven days later, the Tribe are scheduled to battle another old geographical rival in the Henderson Lions. That game is scheduled to be played at the Tomato Bowl.
Graduation losses have smacked the Lions hard, but Henderson is forecast to wind up in second place in District 16-3A.
The Fight'n Indians' final non-conference game is slated for Sep. 28 when Jacksonville welcomes Marshall to town. That game will also serve as the Indians' homecoming affair.
The Mavs, who always seem to give the Indians a good game, are slotted in the No. 4 position in the District 14-4A pecking order.
After enjoying an open date on Oct. 5, Jacksonville opens District 16-4A action on Oct. 12 by traveling to Nacogdoches.
The following week Whitehouse is scheduled to invade the Tomato Bowl as the Tribe plays it first league home contest.
Things get even tougher on Oct. 26 as the Indians have a date with the Lions of John Tyler at TMF Rose Stadium.
The Lions, who are even more formidable at home, are the pre-season district favorite and are ranked No. 3 in the state Class 3A pre-season poll.
After playing at home for the last time in 2012 (Nov. 2) against Lindale, Jacksonville will wrap up the regular season by trekking to Corsicana on Nov. 9.
The Tigers, who welcome back 25 lettermen and seven starters, went 13-2 in 2011 and were a Division II state semi-finalist.
Corsicana is ranked No. 14 in the state in the Class 4-A pre-season poll.
Looking for someone to blame for putting together this brutal listing of games for the Tribesmen?
Well, don't blame Coach Taber, as this schedule was put together long before the Taber regime ever began.
