Jefferson City isn't putting much stock into Hickman's record.
The Jays learned their lesson after what happened last season in the opening round of the playoffs, and they don't want a repeat of that.
No. 2 Jefferson City (6-3) will look to be on top of its game when the Jays host No. 7 Hickman (1-8) in the opening round of the Class 6 District 3 Tournament at 7 p.m. tonight at Adkins Stadium.
"You just see the sense of urgency out of the seniors," Jefferson City head coach Ted LePage said Wednesday. "They are not taking this game for granted."
After Jefferson City claimed a 31-21 win against Rock Bridge in Week 9 last season, the Bruins bounced back in Week 10 to hand the Jays a 48-18 loss - ending their season in the process.
That game weighed on many of Jefferson City's upperclassmen throughout the offseason, and the Jays vowed then it would not happen again.
"Last year I think we felt like as an overall team, that we were going to be able to go out and beat Rock Bridge again," LePage said. "I think that is in the back of their mind that anything can happen. I believe they are very focused on this football team and winning this game."
Last year's early exit in districts isn't the only motivating factor for Jefferson City going into postseason play this season. Hickman knocked the Jays out of the first round of the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. The teams also have 53 wins apiece, with four ties, in the all-time series.
"This is a game that is really important to us," LePage said. "Playing Hickman, we don't want the repeat. We want to come out and play our best football."
Jefferson City edged Hickman in the most recent meeting, claiming a 25-7 win in Week 3 in a game that was delayed for two hours due to inclement weather midway through the first quarter.
LePage was quick to note the amount of time that has elapsed from Sept. 5 to tonight.
"There is a seven-game difference between (meetings)," he said. "With seven games, there's a lot of things that can transpire to change your football team during those dynamic weeks."
Of Hickman's eight losses this season, four have come to state-ranked teams - three in Class 6. The Kewpies are coming off a 31-0 loss to Hazelwood Central, the top team in the large-school division.
Hickman also lost 42-6 to No. 2 Rockhurst in Week 7, 62-14 to No. 4 C.B.C. in Week 1 and 48-7 to Helias - No. 2 in Class 4 - in Week 4.
"Anytime you look at that, you know they've played great competition to get here," LePage said. "They're going to be a good opponent for us."
Hickman has been outscored 335-115 by opponents this season, and its lone win came in Week 8, when the Kewpies rallied to beat Liberty 34-20 at home on Senior Night.
Those are just numbers to LePage, and they don't mean a lot to the veteran coach.
"They're a very, very well-coached team and their team plays extremely hard," he said. "They never let up. They will not go away."
Jefferson City compiled 306 yards of offense - 295 on the ground - while holding Hickman to 179 yards the first time the teams met this season. The Jays also had 14 first downs while limiting the Kewpies to five and forcing them to punt nine times for an average of 26.6 yards.
Jake Pridgin had a breakout game, running for 123 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns - all in the second half - after Jefferson City switched from its spread offense to a power formation.
"I think we caught them off guard last time," LePage said. "I think they were prepared for us to be more a spread-type attack. In the second half, we went to the power (formation). If I know coach (Arnel) Monroe, he is not going to let us beat him with the option."
Gunner See got his first-and-only start under center for the Jays in their first meeting against Hickman. The sophomore quarterback was 2-of-4 for 11 yards, before Isaac Roling entered the game in the second half to patrol Jefferson City's power formation, which relied heavily on the triple option.
LePage said the Jays will need to gain yards on the ground and through the air in order to be successful tonight.
"They're going to look to stop our running game, and we're going to have to be able to throw the football to win," he said.
Junior quarterback Carter Nicoli led the offensive attack for Kewpies in the first meeting, completing 8-of-15 passes for 89 yards while compiling 33 yards rushing on 15 carries. Junior running back Elijah Crum had 63 yards on the ground on four carries and scored on a 61-yard run to tie the game at 7 with 9:50 to play in the second quarter.
"Offensively, I think they have an identity now," LePage said. "They've really settled in. They're running a lot more triple-option than they did earlier in the season. We're going to have to be very disciplined in our matchups on the defensive side."
Jefferson City is coming off a 34-17 loss to Rockhurst, but LePage said while the scoreboard didn't reflect it, there were some positive aspects the Jays took away from the Week 9 game.
"I felt like we moved forward as a team," he said. "I just don't feel like we were consistent in that game, and that's one of the things we've really talked about and work on at practice this week."
Now, Jefferson City will be playing in a game the Jays have worked towards for the last 12 months. And they don't intend on coming up short this time.
"Last year, Rock Bridge really disappointed (the players)," LePage said. "They didn't feel like they played their best football game. What they want to do is be playing their best football, and this is a game they're looking forward to. The hunger is there."
Notes: Offensive lineman Anthony Murphy will not play after suffering an ankle sprain last week against Rockhurst. Cole Heidbreder will get the start in his place.
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