Prep Football: Jays to square off with Confluence Prep for Homecoming

Homecoming week brings distractions to high school football players everywhere. That's a fact.

Extracurricular activities are crammed into an energy-packed week.

But Jefferson City head football coach Ted LePage doesn't expect the extra hoopla to faze his group.

"You would think," LePage said when asked about distractions affecting play on the field. "And normally it would, but this year is different. When I say it's different, our players came out of that game last week (and) Monday may have been our most spirited, best Monday practice we've had. The players were confident, upbeat and wanted to practice and the same for the following days. It has been a a good week."

LePage said this group is "different" than some of the Jefferson City teams from previous seasons.

"Four wins, you start to get confident. But I always reflect back and when I say it's different (I mean) they're confident, but they're hungry," LePage said. "I've seen enthusiasm out of the group. They seem to have fun playing the game and being around each other. I think it leads over from last year, but it's something I haven't seen in several years in their excitement and the fun that they're having."

Winning can do that.

The Jays (5-1) are riding a four-game winning streak ahead of tonight's Homecoming game against Class 3 Confluence Prep Academy.

"I believe Homecoming is a special time," LePage said. "There are going to be a lot of people here. There's also a lot of things going on at school. The football team can set the tempo for the rest of the school. So all the spirit competitions, anything going on with the school, we want our players to be involved in that because when the other young people see it, they also want to be involved with it. ... Our players have really bought in and are a part of the school community. I think there's excitement."

Jefferson City is also coming off a 31-21 victory against Rock Bridge last week, pushing its record against district opponents to 3-0.

Back in December, LePage said, the seniors made two goals for this year's team. They set out to have the highest district seed possible, then win districts. Following the completion of the Rock Bridge contest, the team celebrated with loud cheers in the visitors locker room.

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The Goddess Festival, now in its second year, will run the length of March with workshops, performances, art shows and fundraisers.

It was a moment LePage wanted his team to savor.

"What you're working for during the week is coming into play Friday night," he said. "So anytime you have success on Friday night's, it's usually because of the preparation you've put in. And that's a lot of preparation, that's a lot of work. We always tell our guys to enjoy a win because they're really hard to come by."

But then it was back to work this week, as they are set to play their final three games at Adkins Stadium.

This week's practices have been some of the best of the season, LePage said.

The Jays have two big matchups coming up in the final two weeks of the regular season with unbeaten Battle and Rockhurst. But LePage said they are focused on Confluence Prep.

"The only way to be the highest seed in district is to beat all your opponents in front of you," LePage said. "This is Confluence Prep. We have an opponent in front of us and we must win this football game in order to be as high as we want as a district seed. To win a district title we got to be playing our A-game, so we've got to get better each week.

"The first third of the season we went 2-1, second third of the season we went 3-0, and now we're in the third third of the season. What are we going to accomplish in the third third (of the season)? Well, you better start strong. It all boils around playing Confluence Friday night. Then you just look to the next two teams as they come. The schedule is what the schedule is. We play Friday night and all we can control is what happens on Friday night."

Confluence Prep (2-4) is fresh off a 59-20 win against Barat Academy. The Jays defeated the Titans, 48-6, last season on Homecoming. Although there are no common opponents between the two schools, the Titans did lose 42-6 to Eldon in the season opener.

The key to being successful in the Homecoming game?

"Be themselves," LePage said. "That's the biggest issue when you play a Homecoming game. Lot of crowd, lot of people, lot of excitement, lot of distractions, and trying to do something they're not capable of or not worthy of. I always want to see us do what we do and do it well. And really not try to do too much or too little. Live for right now."

More importantly, LePage wants to see the Jays play a full game.

"If we're not playing four full quarters, then we're going backwards," he said. "We can't afford that at this point and I know our team doesn't expect or want to go backwards, they want to keep moving forward. If we don't play four quarters, that's a lack of focus that started in my office and went down from there. That's something we've addressed with the players; we're full force ahead. This is the fun part of the season."

The Jays defense will be without senior linebacker David Rogers (MCL). LePage is hoping he returns next week. LePage also said senior running back/linebacker Nathaniel Bustamante will be out for the remainder of the season after he suffered a broken right ankle last week.

On offense, Confluence Prep will run a triple option out of a spread formation.

"From a speed perspective they have speed all over the field," LePage said. ". ...This is a team that's coming in and saying "Hey, we've had some success and scored 56 points.' They're going to come in with some confidence and wanting to play this football game."

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Jefferson City hosts Confluence Prep - Updates on Twitter: @AdamBurnsJC. Listen live online: klik1240.com

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Week 7 Preview: Jefferson City vs. Confluence Prep