Isaiah Jackson

Serra

Last week: A senior running back-linebacker on Serra's football team, Jackson led the Eagles in a 28-0 semifinal victory against Monessen. Jackson rushed for 169 yards and a 26-yard score in the victory that pushed the Eagles into a championship date with Springdale tomorrow at Heinz Field.

Check this out: Jackson, who lives near the Petersen Events Center in Oakland, is also Serra's leading tackler, marking the third consecutive season he has led his squad in stops.

Are you worried about the playing surface at Heinz Field for the title game? No, not at all. Our field is grass, too, and it isn't exactly in the greatest shape. I know we'll be prepared for it.

What about having to play a game that kicks off at 10:30 a.m.? When we have preseason scrimmages, they are in the morning, so from that standpoint, we are used to it. It shouldn't be hard getting up for a championship game, I know that.

You live in Oakland and travel all the way to Serra, in McKeesport, for school each day. Is that tough? What time do you get up? I get on the school bus at 6. That means I am up at 5 or 5:15 or so every morning. We don't get to school until after 7 because, after they pick me up, the bus picks up a whole bunch of other people.

You are playing Springdale in the title game. Are you disappointed it isn't Clairton? I know a lot of players for Clairton, so it would have been a good experience to play them. This is no disrespect to them, though, but Springdale is the better team because they earned it. They went out and beat Clairton head-to-head when it mattered. So I know what we are up against when we play Springdale because they have a great tradition, great players and a great, great coach.

-- By Colin Dunlap