Jefferson City head coach Ted LePage doesn't think the Jays have played their best game yet.
Actually, he doesn't think they've come anywhere close.
"I would say we're a confident football team, but we're nowhere near where we want to be yet," LePage said Wednesday. "We're a hungry football team. There's nobody in our organization right now that feels like there's nothing we can't be better at."
Jefferson City (5-2), coming off a 48-6 win in Week 7 against Confluence Preparatory Academy, will look to take another step in the right direction when the Jays face Battle (4-3) on the road at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Spartans, now in their second season with a football program, are on a two-game winning streak after holding off Hickman 14-7 in Week 6 and routing Lee's Summit North 37-7 last week at home.
"They've given some really good schools the business here the last couple weeks," LePage said. "Lee's Summit North is a really good school - big, prominent school in the Kansas City area. Looking at that score and watching that game, Battle never (let down) and beat them pretty good.
"It's going to be a huge test for us."
It would also be a big win for Jefferson City, currently ranked second behind Francis Howell in Class 6 District 6 with 38.1 points. Timberland is third in the district (36.1), Fort Zumwalt West is fourth (34.37) and Rock Bridge is fifth (32.37).
"Not only does it set the momentum, but it puts us in a really good position in our district," LePage said. "This is a big game for us, and our players know it."
LePage also knows it won't be an easy win.
"I think one thing they do really well is compete," he said. "You go into playing a newer program, and a lot of times they're tying to figure things out. There's nothing they're tying to figure out. They have great athletes that are very competitive."
Battle's defense has been on a role as of late, recording shutouts in back-to-back weeks. The only touchdowns the Spartans have allowed in that span have come on kickoff returns.
"Their front seven is a very explosive, strong group," LePage said. "Each week they have grown more confident. Right now they feel like they're playing their best football and they've got some giddy-up in their step."
LePage feels Battle's front four, which is made up of Jerrion Nelson (6-2, 245), Chandler Anderson (6-2, 230), Brandon Hendrick (6-2, 320) and Chris Zachary (6-1, 230), is the strength of the Spartans' defense. He also called Battle's linebackers the most consistent he's seen this season.
"When you go at them, they've been a stone wall as of late," he said. "I think one thing we're going to have to do is find some ways to penetrate and get some things going in the middle of the field to try to bring them in and force their linebackers so we can create some things on the outside."
Offensively, Battle is led by senior running back Nash Sutherlin, who ran for 144 yards on 19 carries last week against Lee's Summit North.
"When you have him on the field, he can change the game in a hurry," LePage said. "There hasn't been a team yet where he hasn't been able to make some kind of play during the game where you just sit there and go, "Wow.'
"He's a special back, so we're really going to have to keep our eyes on him and keep him corralled."
Battle will run a wildcat formation with Jerroin Nelson (6-2, 245) taking the snaps, but LePage said sophomore quarterback Brevinn Tyler "is probably as elusive of a runner there is."
The absence of senior running back Elijah Pittman will make Jefferson City's backfield a little more depleted for the second straight week, but the Jays are confident other players can fill the void left by their leading rusher.
Denzel Wilson, Jake Pridgin and Austin Gerloff are all expected to carry the ball as Pittman continues to recover from a concussion he suffered in Week 6.
Wilson is coming off his best game of the season after rushing for 95 yards on 17 carries and scoring his first two touchdowns against Confluence.
"One thing we noticed with Denzel, last week he went from being a running back that went in and filled gaps for you to being, "I'm carrying it and I'm going.' We noticed him making cuts and runs we hadn't seen since camp.
"I think he's ready to be that featured running back."
Tonight's matchup will be Jefferson City's second road game of the season. The Jays will also travel to Rockhurst in Week 9.
LePage doesn't see that as a disadvantage.
"Our players love to go on the road," he said. "When we go on the road it seems like everything gets a little tighter, everything gets a little crisper. We're really looking forward to the road trip."
Jefferson City at Columbia Battle - Updates on Twitter: @RusBaer7. Listen live online: kwos.com or ktgr.com
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