Prep Football: Jefferson City to host Blue Springs South to begin district play

Carson Ridgeway (middle) of Jefferson City blocks Ty Simsheuser (right) of Rockhurst while Adam Huff (left) of Jefferson City returns a kickoff during last Friday night's game in Kansas City.
Carson Ridgeway (middle) of Jefferson City blocks Ty Simsheuser (right) of Rockhurst while Adam Huff (left) of Jefferson City returns a kickoff during last Friday night's game in Kansas City.

Jefferson City and Blue Springs South don't often meet on the football field, but when they do, there's always something at stake.

The Jays and Jaguars have squared off in the state semifinals twice in the past decade - a 42-7 win for the Jaguars in 2006 and a 16-10 decision in favor of Blue Springs South in 2008.

Last year, the two teams met each other in Blue Springs in a district semifinal, which Blue Springs South won 48-21.

Following that loss, Jays coach Ted LePage said: "I would love to see if we could ever get a home playoff game. We get to go on the road after a 9-1 season. I don't know how that happens but maybe sometime Blue Springs South will have to come to Jeff City."

Wish granted.

The Jaguars will travel east tonight to Adkins Stadium to play the Jays in the first round of Class 6 District 3 action. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Jaguars went undefeated on their way to the state title last season, but enter tonight's game having lost three straight games to finish with a 4-5 record and the five-seed in the district.

The Jays were 9-1 before last year's loss to the Jaguars, but are 5-4 coming into this matchup after losing three straight to close out the regular season.

Injuries have bitten both teams late this season.

The Jaguars may be without quarterback Camden Sprouse, who hasn't played since getting a concussion in Week 8 against Blue Springs.

Jefferson City will be without linebacker Tate Borgmeyer, who injured his knee in last week's 49-6 loss at Rockhurst.

Fellow linebackers Elijah Jackson and Gaven Strobel were also banged up last week, but are expected to play.

Mason York, who's played safety and linebacker, will be out with a concussion.

But the Jays will get defensive tackle Nik Williams and receiver Michael Ellinger back.

Quarterback Gunnar See will be able to play after being hobbled last week.

"He said he feels better this week than he has all season and he's ready to go out and play," Jays coach Ted LePage said. "He wants to make up for last week."

The Jays will need all they can get from the linebackers and the rest of the defense this week, especially against the run.

The Jaguars ran for 419 yards on the ground last year against Jefferson City.

The Jays have allowed an average of 376.75 yards on the ground in their four losses this season. In their five wins, they've only given up 429 rushing yards total.

During the current three-game losing streak, opponents have averaged 6.6 yards per carry against Jefferson City.

Blue Springs South hopes to take advantage of that, no matter who the quarterback is.

Sprouse leads the team with 88 carries and seven touchdowns. He's second on the team with 304 yards.

Brody Parker finished off the Blue Springs game with 30 yards and a touchdown on six rushing attempts. He only managed 13 yards on eight attempts last week against Park Hill.

In the 31-10 defeat last week, Parker went 11-for-24 for 174 yards and an interception.

"We need to really stop their quarterback," LePage said. "Their quarterback is their main guy."

A weapon the Jays are familiar with is receiver Jerome Hawkins, who surpassed 120 yards on nine carries last year against Jefferson City.

The senior has 64 carries for 339 yards and four scores this season. He also has 21 receptions for 453 yards and a touchdown.

Hawkins scored the lone touchdown for the Jaguars last week, a 68-yard receiver screen.

"He's a lot like a Dennis Barnes type of guy, only they use him out of the backfield," LePage said. "They'll do a lot of different things with him. What we're going to do is read your key. They are a very good speed option team. They run the jet sweep and the quarterback will keep it, so you've got to play assignment football."

As for the Jays' offense, it's coming off a game in which it didn't score for the first time in more than two years.

The Jays' best shot at offensive points last week came in the final seconds when Jefferson City drove to the Rockhurst 7-yard line.

Two incompletions in the end zone and the running clock prevented a score.

The Jays may be able to get on track tonight against the Jaguars, who have allowed more than 30 points in four straight games.

Blue Springs South gave up 21 points or fewer in four of its first five games.

"That's kind of a catch-22 because they've given up some points but they've played some really good teams," LePage said. "Traditionally they are a really good defense. We've never had a lot of success against this defense."

In a 49-29 loss at Lee's Summit, the Jaguars allowed 380 yards and five touchdowns through the air and 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

"We saw some things that we did wrong last year that we think we can correct and do better this year," LePage said, "and we've seen some things on film that we think there are some things that can work. We've seen other teams do things that we have in our package, so we're going to try to attack them a little bit better than we have in the past."

 CLASS 6 Bracket

Jefferson City hosts Blue Springs South

Updates on Twitter: @J_Strick_Sports

Listen live online: kwos.com or klik1240.com