JACKSON, Mo. -- Cael Welker took a knee, and as the final seconds ticked off the clock, the sophomore quarterback found his senior center and wrapped up Dawson Southard in a bear hug.
For the first time in his high school career, Southard was a district champion. Welker had four touchdowns on his birthday as top-seeded Jackson football jumped out to a double-digit halftime lead amid cold and snowy conditions Friday night and cruised to a 42-23 win over No. 2 Fox in the Class 5 District 1 final at The Pit.
"I just told him we've been working for it all year," Welker said. "I wanted it for him because he's on my offensive line and he blocks for me so much. It was good I got to cherish that moment with him."
It's Jackson's first district title since 2014 when the current senior class was in eighth grade.
After falling in the district championship the past two seasons, the Indians broke through against the Warriors (9-2), upping their record to 11-0.
It was also the final Friday home game for the senior class. Jackson advances to a Class 5 quarterfinal against Vianney at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in St. Louis.
"I'm really happy for them," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said of the seniors. "We talked about that being our last home Friday night game. They were excited about it. They've done a great job of leading. They've played really hard and achieved. I'm really happy for them.
"It's outstanding for us, the last Friday night we get a little snow and a win. It's awesome."
A 7-0 first quarter was simply a prelude for a wild second, with three touchdowns scored within 22 seconds.
First, Daniel Dickerson scampered untouched over the right side for a 24-yard touchdown with 8 minutes, 2 seconds remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Fox junior Jake Pisoni fielded the kickoff on the bounce at the 35-yard line and outraced the Indians coverage team for the score. The extra-point attempt was blocked, giving Jackson a 14-6 lead.
That lead was soon back to double digits after another Dickerson touchdown run. Dickerson finished with 151 yards on 22 carries as Jackson rushed for 247 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Kent's second touchdown of the day, a 14-yard catch on a wide receiver screen, gave the Indians a 28-6 lead.
With the help of a couple penalties, Fox drove inside the Jackson 10 but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Jack Weis as time expired in the first half.
That cut Jackson's lead to 28-9, and Fox, with its run-heavy offense, never got any closer in the second half.
All that was left was the celebration.