Rockhurst edges Jefferson City

Jake Pridgin of the Jays tries to break from the grip of Javon Goodman of Rockhurst during Friday night's game at Adkins Stadium.
Jake Pridgin of the Jays tries to break from the grip of Javon Goodman of Rockhurst during Friday night's game at Adkins Stadium.

This one ranks right up there with the best of them.

Another classic rivalry game between Jefferson City and Rockhurst ended with the Hawklets making that one extra play when it was most needed.

After the No. 7 Jays stormed back from 10 points down at halftime to take a fourth-quarter lead, No. 8 Rockhurst scored a late touchdown to take a 20-16 decision Friday night at Adkins Stadium.

"There were a couple different turning points, but I really think when they needed a play they made it," Jefferson City head coach Ted LePage said. "That's a tribute to them. That's what Rockhurst does.

"I felt like our players stepped up and matched them step for step. Our defense played well, our offense did what we had to do against a real good defense. Just one play here, one play there and it's a different story."

Rockhurst's Kiah Kintchen capped a five-play, 45-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run with 4:13 remaining in the contest to give the Hawklets a 20-16 advantage.

After Jefferson City turned the ball over on downs with 2:44 left, Kintchen was able to scamper for a pair of first downs, the latter coming on a third-and-8 play with 1:19 left that iced the game. The junior tailback finished with 118 yards on 23 carries.

"Every time he seemed like he was getting an extra yard when he was getting hit," Le Page said. "Very good running back."

Jefferson City had taken a 16-13 lead with 10:15 remaining in the game when quarterback Gabe Marcantonio hit Jake Pridgin for a 14-yard touchdown pass. That followed a 2-yard keeper from Marcantonio that got the Jays within 13-10 with eight seconds left in the third quarter.

Rockhurst had taken a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when quarterback Ahmad Tyler rushed in from eight yards out.

After a 26-yard field goal from Marcantonio cut the deficit to 7-3 midway through the second period, Rockhurst was able to extended the advantage to 13-3 with 44 seconds left before halftime on a 1-yard keeper from T.J. Green.

The Jays nearly stole a touchdown just before halftime, coming up just inches short as time expired. From the 50, Isaac Roling took a handoff on a sweep going left to right. The backup quarterback ran a few yards, pivoted and tossed a pass back across the field to Marcantonio, who split the defense and ended up in a footrace with a few Hawklets to the end zone. It was Rockhurst's Austin Aguirre who raced to make a lunging tackle just before Marcantonio could cross the goal line.

"I know how fast Rockhurst's defense is, and they closed on him pretty quick," LePage said. "You were hoping (he'd get in)."

Jefferson City rushed 38 times for 133 yards, and went 7-of-19 passing for 124 yards. Rockhurst carried the ball 49 times for 209 yards, and went 9-of-18 passing for 134 yards and an interception.

Rockhurst improves to 4-4, while Jefferson City (5-3) travels Friday to Rock Bridge to wrap up the regular season.

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Missouri high school football for Oct. 18, 2013