Former Jays to lock horns in Independence Bowl

As Missouri running back Henry Josey rips off a 68-yard touchdown run against Western Illinois this season, teammates Marcus Lucas (85) and Travis Ruth (53) trail the play. Ruth, a former Jefferson City Jay, will play against another former Jay, Sylvester Williams, in Monday's Independence Bowl.
As Missouri running back Henry Josey rips off a 68-yard touchdown run against Western Illinois this season, teammates Marcus Lucas (85) and Travis Ruth (53) trail the play. Ruth, a former Jefferson City Jay, will play against another former Jay, Sylvester Williams, in Monday's Independence Bowl.

It's not often two former high school teammates get a chance to butt heads on the gridiron in college.

But in Monday's Independence Bowl, former Jefferson City High School teammates Travis Ruth (Missouri center) and Sylvester Williams (North Carolina noseguard) will line up across from each other on most of Missouri's offensive snaps.

And while they played together at Jefferson City, the road to Division I football couldn't have been more different.