TJ Jackson makes sure Linn-Mar’s return to its home stadium is a memorable one

MARION — It was so unbelievable that all TJ Jackson could do was shake his head and laugh.

The Linn-Mar senior had a homecoming game for the ages on Friday night at Linn-Mar Stadium. It started with him taking back the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score. That was followed shortly after by a 51-yard scoring pass from Austin Waller. The 6-foot, 160-pound speedster capped his short night with a 90-yard punt return for a score midway through the second quarter as the Lions rolled to a 56-6 victory over Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

“On a homecoming night, that's the best way to do it,” he said of his performance. “I really didn't expect it. The last 40 yards (of his punt return) I was just laughing because I was thinking there was no way this was happening.”

Lions Coach Tim Lovell said the message for his team was clear entering the game.

“We've been trying to make progress every week as a football team,” Lovell said. “Setting the tone quickly is something we have struggled with but TJ started it off with the kickoff return, kept it going with the TD pass and finished it off with the punt return.

“This was a great week for us. With all the homecoming activities, it would have been easy for us to not be focused, but we came out ready to go.”

Friday's game also marked the Lions’ first appearance at Linn-Mar Stadium since the final game of the 2021 regular season. A delay in the installation of new turf forced the team to practice at Oak Ridge Middle School and play their first home game against Pleasant Valley at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Lovell and Jackson said getting back to Linn-Mar Stadium provided an extra spark.

“We haven't been in here since the last game of the season last year against Prairie,” Lovell said. “We got to be here starting on Monday. We moved all our stuff over from Oak Ridge on Monday, had to practice on probably the hottest day of the year on Tuesday, then practice in the morning on Wednesday because of the homecoming parade that afternoon.”

Jackson spent plenty of time celebrating on the field with his fellow students following Friday's game. It has become a Linn-Mar tradition for the students to run out on the field and congratulate the Lions after home wins.

“It was great to have that again tonight,” Jackson said. “We played hard, executed well and were able to enjoy it afterward.”

Senior Carter Henderson, who has been working his way back from injury, had a solid game, rushing 10 times for 108 yards. He scored the second Lion TD on a 29-yard run. Henderson's backup, junior Brighton Glaspie, handled the work in the second half, carrying 15 times for 85 yards and a score.

“It was good to see Carter running the ball aggressively,” Lovell said. “I think having him back is a good confidence-builder for our offensive line.”

The Lions (3-2) did have a few regulars missing on Friday night with nagging injuries. Lovell elected to keep some players out in an effort to be as close to full-strength for next week's game at home against No. 4-ranked Southeast Polk.

“That is a tremendous opportunity for our football team,” Lovell said. “To have a team of Southeast Polk's caliber coming here will be a challenge, that's for sure.”

Lions sophomore quarterback Austin Waller was 3-of-4 for 79 yards and a pair of scores, including a 14-yarder to Andrew AbouAssaly. Jack White had an 11-yard interception return for a score. Dylan Muszynski also scored on a 30-yard pass from backup quarterback Abe Benning.

Jefferson (0-5) scored on the game's final play, a 4-yard pass from Vernon Benda to Tyler Huston. The J-Hawks return home to Kingston Stadium for their homecoming game next Friday against Ottumwa.