For the second time in two seasons, Jackson won the showdown that counted against Eureka.

The Indians knocked off visiting Eureka 10-7 on a 20-yard field goal by Morgan Johnson with just 6.8 seconds left Saturday afternoon in the Class 5 state quarterfinal game.

Eureka finished 10-2, while Jackson (8-5) moves on to the state semifinal round. The Indians will play Hazelwood East on Friday night at a location in St. Louis to be determined.

Eureka had won the earlier meeting between the two teams this season, 17-10, in Class 5 District 1. That gave Eureka a first-round playoff bye, but Jackson battled through two playoff games to set up the rematch on its home turf.

Last year in Jackson, the Indians beat Eureka 21-20 with the final minutes consisting of a blocked Eureka PAT and a 78-yard Jackson pass play leading to the winning touchdown. Those two plays were made by senior Matt Lang, who also intercepted Eureka's final pass to seal the game.

Jackson scored early in the fourth period on Adam Zweigart's 11-yard run to cap a 56-yard drive.

Eureka's ensuing drive ended at Jackson's 12-yard line when quarterback Luke Thuston was unable to pick up a fourth-and-1. But Eureka got the ball back at its own 48 with 5:10 to play and -- with the help of a pass interference penalty on fourth-and-14 -- scored the tying touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Thuston to Maurice Alexander. The Wildcats opted for the tying PAT with 1:08 to play.

But Jackson put itself in position to take the lead when Mitchell McCulley returned the ensuing kickoff more than 35 yards to his own 47-yard line. On the next play, Adam Zweigart broke through a hole on the left side for a 40-yard run.

Three more running plays moved the ball to Eureka's 4-yard line, but Jackson opted on fourth-and-1 to run the clock down and let Johnson attempt what turned out to be the winning field goal.

"Our kids never let down," Jackson coach Van Hitt said. "That was obvious. They score and we could have just went flat right there but we didn't let down a bit. We came right back down, got our blocks on offense, got the ball down and kicked the field goal. Our kids played with unbelievable determination."

Zweigart finished the day with 166 yards rushing on 32 carries to account for most of Jackson's offense. He had 113 yards in the second half and finished the day with five runs of 10 or more yards.

Thuston was 16-for-24 for 105 yards passing, less than half the yardage he had in the previous meeting. His longest completion was for 18 yards. Eureka also was limited to 82 yards on the ground.

"This feels amazing," Jackson linebacker Blake Peiffer said. "It almost feels better than last year's win because right now we're still in the playoffs. Last year, it was getting to the playoffs; this year, it's in the playoffs and I can't even explain how it feels right now."

JACKSON 10, EUREKA 7

Fourth quarter

J -- Adam Zweigart 11 run (Morgan Johnson kick), 11:26.

A 12-play drive of nothing but runs covered 56 yards. Fullback Andy Winkleblack's 4-yard plunge up the middle on fourth-and-3 from the Eureka 24 keeps the drive alive.

12 plays, 56 yards, 4:24. Jackson, 7-0.

E -- Maurice Alexander 6 pass from Luke Thuston (Corey Smith kick), 1:08.

Eureka drives 52 yards for its score, picking up a fourth-and-6 with a 10-yard pass from Thuston to Antonio Evans and a fourth-and-14 at the 27 with a pass interference penalty away from what would have been a clinching interception.

11 plays, 52 yards, 4:02. Tied, 7-7

J -- Johnson 20 FG, :06.8.

After Mitchell McCulley's kick return set up Jackson at its own 47-yard line, Zweigart busted through the left side for a 40-yard run, helping to set up the winning field goal.

4 plays, 50 yards, :51. Jackson, 10-7.

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Read about New Madrid's surprising 20-0 loss to New Madrid in a Class 3 quarterfinal, from the Sikeston Standard Democrat.