Jefferson was knee deep in injuries last fall.
Junior quarterback Brandon Perry and career rushing leader Andrew Graves, a senior, both succumbed to knee injuries that required surgery. Junior kicker Lucas Vaughn injured his knee and wide receiver Collin Gosnell suffered a horrific broken leg. Adding to last year’s injury report that wasn’t related to a leg, offensive lineman Brock Hill was lost for the season on Sept. 8 after suffering a major shoulder injury against St. Pius X.
Everyone but Gosnell returned to the first practice the Blue Jays held on Aug. 6.
Head coach Alex Rouggly said Perry is the Blue Jays’ best signal caller since Austin Graves and Andrew Graves is poised to surpass 5,000 career rushing yards. Vaughn was kicking at an all-I-55 Conference level before his injury.
“Health is a big word among small schools,” said Rouggly who’s guided Jefferson to a 13-7 record over the last two seasons. “Bigger schools are maybe three or four deep at some positions, but we’re two deep. Injuries happen, but we want to be prepared and not have our feet in cement.”
Cement might be the only thing that can slow down Graves, who will wear a brace on the injured knee this year. He’s rushed for 4,978 yards and scored 71 touchdown his first three seasons, but he hasn’t been able to complete a schedule since his freshman year. Graves had a splendid spring running the 100-meter dash for the school’s track and field team. Rouggly said Graves started doing yoga over the summer to improve his flexibility and to help avoid injuries.
“Before track season, I would have thought Andrew’s lateral movement and straight ahead speed would have been compromised, but after he won the Festus Early Bird (in March) wearing that brace, anything you put in front of him, he knocks it down,” Rouggly said. “He has done every little thing to prepare for his senior year.”
Left-hander Tommy Moon, a senior, stepped in for Perry last year and played in seven games. Perry was averaging 13 yards per carry and had scored three TDs before getting hurt, and is much more mobile than Moon. Rouggly said having Moon back up Perry again this year helps him sleep at night.
“Brandon is about as close a QB to Austin Graves as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Rouggly said. “He can run the option very well. He throws the ball fairly well. Tommy can run the option, but he’s not as mobile as Brandon. Each has different attributes, but having two quality quarterbacks who know our offense is a huge bonus for our program.”
The Blue Jays have plenty of depth in the backfield with seniors Tanner Davis and Ben Breeze, Vaughn (fullback), sophomore Colby Ott, junior Dylan Duncan and sophomore twins Will and Dylan Schnitzler. Davis ran for 803 yards and scored 13 touchdowns last season. Breeze transferred from St. Pius X in 2016 and sat out last year.
Senior Erik Eisenbeis, junior Hadyn Wagner and Cole Holdinghausen are the top wide receivers. None of them caught a pass for the Blue Jays last year.
“This is the most depth at the skill positions we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Rouggly said.
Anchoring the offensive line is senior left tackle Brandon Floyd (6-3, 305 pounds). Floyd is joined on the top unit by senior Daniel McWhorter, a converted tight end turned center, sophomore Steve Stephens (left guard), Hill (right guard) and junior Connor Surratt (right tackle). Sophomores Corey Robinson and Ethan Deal are the two top backups on the line. Senior Jon Mudd returns at tight end.
“We’re not as tall as we’ve been in years past,” Rouggly said of the line.
The Blue Jays’ biggest loss to graduation was two-way starter Dakota Jakoubek, who led the team with 123 tackles, three sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
“Losing him is like losing two or three players,” Rouggly said.
Rouggly said he’s impressed with the team speed on his defense, which will line up in 4-4 and 3-4 schemes.
“I’m a big believer to get as much speed on defense as possible,” Rouggly said.
Floyd, Vaughn, Surratt, Hill, Robinson and Deal are part of a six-man rotation along the defensive line designed to keep them all fresh for the fourth quarter. Replacing Jakoubek at inside linebacker is McWhorter, a thickly built, tough player. Mudd and sophomores Dawson Jakoubek and Reese Taylor also play inside linebacker. Graves, Moon, Breeze and sophomore Dalton Travica line up on the outside. Perry and Eisenbeis are the starting cornerbacks, and are backed up by Will Schnitzler and Wagner.
Vaughn and Breeze are vying for the kicking and punting duties.
Jefferson has finished 8-3 in conference games the past two seasons and could be on the verge of ending Valle Catholic’s five-year reign atop the I-55. The two teams meet at Jefferson on Sept. 28.
