Turnovers cost Jays in 35-7 loss at Kirkwood

Jays safety Tyler Bise tries to tackle Kirkwood running back Martez Jones during Friday night's game in Kirkwood.
Jays safety Tyler Bise tries to tackle Kirkwood running back Martez Jones during Friday night's game in Kirkwood.

KIRKWOOD, Mo. - The Jefferson City Jays matched the physicality of Kirkwood's defense Friday night. The issues came when they got close to the end zone.

The Jays turned it over three times in the first half, all in Kirkwood territory, and they couldn't recover as the third-ranked Pioneers won 35-7.

Jefferson City's lone score of the game came with 4:19 left in the third quarter - a 1-yard run by fullback K.D. Rosser.

That score came after Tyler Bise recovered a fumble and got the Jays within 21-7, but the next three drives ended with an interception, punt and turnover on downs.

"We were right there with them," Jays coach Ted LePage said. "With nine underclassmen starting offense, we made too many just little mistakes."

Jefferson City relied heavily on Rosser, who carried it 27 times for 139 yards.

"We knew what K.D. was going to bring," LePage said. " We thought our best opportunity, especially with having so many young guys, was to go under center and go right at them and K.D. gave us that opportunity."

He carried it six times in the Jays' opening drive, including a 32-yard sprint through a big hole in the line of scrimmage. It put the Jays 10 yards from the end zone and in position to tie the game. It wouldn't happen, and that was the theme Friday night.

On fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Jakobee Molett broke up a pass at the goal line intended for tight end Ian Cote. An RJ Jackson sack on third down stopped the Jays' next drive at the Kirkwood 25. An incomplete pass on fourth-and-23 fell incomplete.

Quarterback Devin Roberson handed it off to Rosser eight times on their next drive, which ended with a Rosser fumble at the Kirkwood 34.

The Pioneers then drove down for a touchdown, a 6-yard pass from Ryan Kraichely to Armon Tindle, making it 21-0 after the PAT. That would be the halftime score as the Jays could only get to their own 47 in the final 1:04 of the half.

The Pioneers used their quick passing game with a mix of runs to drive down the field efficiently. And every once in a while a deep pass would burn the Jays.

After Rosser's first of two fumbles, Kraichely launched a jump ball to Travion Mosby, a 6-foot-2 receiver, for a 36-yard gain. Six plays later, Kraichely and Tindle connected for the aforementioned 6-yard score. Kraichely finished with three TD passes.

"When you run option you know you're going to put the ball on the ground," LePage said. "We did it at the wrong times."

The Jays' defense created opportunities to cut Kirkwood's lead.

Jays defensive tackle Erick Schwarz recovered a fumble to give the Jays the ball at the Kirkwood 45 late in the first quarter.

Roberson had a 12-yard run and Rosser an 18-yard gain on a drive that ended with a turnover on downs.

The Pioneers turned it over on downs on their first second-half drive, but the Jays went 3-and-out.

Jefferson City (1-1) will conclude its three-game road trip next Friday at Hickman.