COLUMBIA - The Jefferson City Jays left no doubt in a 56-26 rout of their historic rivals out of Hickman on Friday night at Robert M. LeMone Field at Alumni Stadium.
The Jays started much like they finished. Safety Izaya Sands picked up a weak opening kickoff at the 30 yard line and took it to the house.
"What a way to start that game," Jays head coach Ted LePage said. "That pretty much put a feather in our cap."
The Jays continued to pour it on the Kewpies with two more scores via a 2-yard Denzel Wilson rushing touchdown and a Gunnar See 2-yard scamper.
The Kewpies mixed in a Carter Nicoli-to-Thomas Dutton connection from 12 yards out.
Three minues into the second quarter, See went over the top to wide receiver Daniel Ellinger down the left flank. Ellinger beat his man, made the catch in stride and was off to the races. The 68-yard connection was Ellingers' second touchdown of the season, but it wouldn't be his last on the night.
The Kewpies went three-and-out after Ellinger's touchdown. The Jays took over at the Hickman 40. After See found tight end Allan Roettgen twice for a total of 18 yards, See threw a ball to Ellinger over the middle on a slant round from 20 yards out four plays into the drive. Ellinger caught the nicely-placed ball and a few steps later was in the end zone for his second touchdown in three minutes.
Ellinger's second score put the Jays ahead 35-6 halfway through the second quarter.
Hickman quarterback Nicoli wouldn't let the Kempies mounted an effort to get the home side in range before the half. Nicoli connected with Brandon Jones for 60 yards. Jones was caught from behind by Dennis Barnes.
After the Kewpies couldn't muster a touchdown and turning it over on downs, the Jays gave it right back with a fumble. Hickman would go three-and-out once again. One play later, See's pass was batted at the line of scrimmage and intercepted for a pick-6 by Airin Rolley.
Hickman would get the ball back with under a minute to play in the first half when J.T. Bohlken punted it and backed the Kewpies up to their one-yard line.
Hickman's Ryan Old broke the Jays defense, and Nicoli didn't miss his target, connecting for a 60-yard gain. Nicoli scrambled for a first down and completed three more passes on his way to an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dutton in the dying seconds of the half. The Jays led 35-20 at halftime.
The Jays defense held the Kewpies to six points the rest of the night, a 25-yard Nicoli scrambling touchdown on third and long.
Jays senior running back and leading rusher Denzel Wilson, who scored the second touchdown of the night, left the game early in the second quarter and didn't return. Wilson walked gingerly to the locker room after the game.
LePage said that they pulled him for "precautionary reasons." Wilson will be re-evaluated for an achilles strain tomorrow.
Senior offensive lineman Anthony Murphy went down early in the third quarter and had to be helped off the field. He didn't return and was driven to the locker room on a golf cart. LePage is hopeful that it's just a severe sprain.
Junior defensive back Rashaun Woods rushed for two touchdowns in the second half as Wilson's replacement. The first one was a two-yard score and the second was a 61 off a pitch to the left from See.
Linebacker David Rogers had a pick-6 just before the end of the third quarter.
The win pushed the Jays overall lead on Hickman to 55-53-4.
The Jays (2-1) open the 2015 home slate with a game against DeSmet next Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.