The first day of practice for the Jefferson football team was on Aug. 10. The heat index that day registered above 100 degrees.
Head coach Alex Rouggly looked at his players and coaches wearing face masks – the kind that cover your mouth and nose, not the bars attached to your helmet – and felt for them. Wearing masks while not engaged in strenuous activity is a must on the practice field because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus. As much as Rouggly might not want his players wearing masks while practicing, he understands why they need to.
“They’ve done a great job of taking care of that,” said Rouggly who enters his sixth year as the head coach. “It’s an important part of this process, because if we don’t do our part we’re setting up other people around this county to not be playing this fall.”
As for turnout, the Blue Jays didn’t lose any players due to COVID-19 concerns. They have 47 athletes from freshmen through seniors, the most they’ve ever had to start a season.
“We’re following the rules to the best of our ability,” Rouggly said. “On (Aug. 10) it was a hot day. To see the kids with their face coverings on – we have to follow the rules – to see them out there, I know they were sweating from the onset. It was a blessing to be out there with them. We love coaching and teaching kids. It’s all about making memories and the goal this fall is for that to happen.”
A year ago, in the first season since Blue Jay all-time leading rusher Andrew Graves graduated, Jefferson fell back to .500 at 5-5. The Blue Jays dropped their final two games, losing to I-55 Conference foe St. Vincent in the regular season finale and then to St. Pius X in the first round of the Class 2 District 1 tournament. The Lancers also beat Jefferson during the regular season.
Without Graves, a dozen Jefferson running backs got carries. Dylan Duncan rushed for a team-high 511 yards, but he’s graduated. However, the Schnitzler cousins, seniors Dylan and Will, who combined for 633 yards on 84 carries a year ago, return along with dynamic playmaker Colby Ott.
“Dylan had a great year last year,” Rouggly said. “Andrew Graves kept a lot of people in his shadow when he was here and Dylan waited patiently. He’s going to be the man back there.”
Ott, a senior whom Rouggly will line up in multiple positions to maximize his touches, rushed for 265 yards and caught 19 passes for 296 yards in 2019. His 10 touchdowns were second only to Dylan Schnitzler’s 11 and he averaged 29 yards per kick return.
With most athletes sidelined since last March because of the coronavirus, Ott played shortstop this summer for Festus Post 253.
“You’re going to see him everywhere offensively,” Rouggly said. “He’s a dynamic kid. And when you have someone like that, you’ve got to make sure he’s put in position to get the ball and make people miss and be himself in space. That’s our job as a coaching staff.”
The fullbacks, important pieces in the Blue Jays’ flex-bone offense, are sophomore Sean Usery, junior Robbie Hurley and seniors Justin Mitchell and Marquis Meyer.
Junior Colton Richardson started the first five games at quarterback for Jefferson in 2019 until he suffered a collarbone injury against Class 1 state champion Valle Catholic. Junior Drew Breeze stepped in for Richardson and called signals for the rest of the season. Both are in line to play under center this year. Sophomore Gavin Theodoro and freshman James Heberlie give Rouggly added depth at the position.
“We’ve got a really good eighth-grader we’re excited about, too,” Rouggly said. “The great thing is they all come back next year.”
In their history, the Blue Jays have rushed for about 90 percent of their yardage. That could change this fall because of a deep, talented group of wide receivers.
Will Schnitzler, junior Will Breeze, seniors Ethan Boyer and J.J. Irwin and junior Chase Politte all will line up wide. Schnitzler led that group with 13 catches last year.
“This is the deepest we’ve been at receiver,” Rouggly said. “They’re all threats on the perimeter. They’ve tried to perfect their hands, route running and getting off the line of scrimmage. It’s our jobs as coaches to make sure they get the job done out on the perimeter.”
The offensive line has size and talent in seniors Ethan Deal (left tackle), Dawson Jakoubek (right guard), Steve Stephens (right tackle) and sophomore Mason Campbell. Sophomores Konnor Armstrong and Brady Sadler and junior Jackson Combs provide depth and other starting options.
“They are bigger kids, but they move well and that’s a key to our success up front,” Rouggly said of his line.
Jakoubek led the Blue Jays’ 3-4 defense last year from the middle linebacker position with 123 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Like his older brother, Dakota, Dawson is a natural football player who thrives on studying the game.
“Dawson is our defensive leader,” Rouggly said. “He’s one of the smartest football players I’ve coached and it allows him to play faster for his size.”
Lining up in the middle with Jakoubek are Hurley and Meyer. At outside linebacker are Usery, Richardson, Theodoro, and senior Dalton Travica, along with his younger brother Dylan, a sophomore. The defensive line is a combination of the starters from the O-line.
Ott is just as much of a playmaker at safety as he is on offense. He has 11 career interceptions, including seven his sophomore year. Dylan Schnitzler and junior Karter Dowd also will play in the defensive backfield. The cornerbacks are Will Schnitzler, Will Breeze, Boyer and Politte.
“We’ve got a fast defense, but we can get into our four-man front to get pressure,” Rouggly said.
Will Schnitzler and Drew Breeze handle the punting, while Will Breeze returns at kicker. Dylan Travica, Politte and Meyers also can kick.
Jefferson opens the season Aug. 28 at Fredericktown, a Class 3 team that finished 3-7 last year. The Blue Jays open their home schedule against Cuba on Sept. 4.
TOMORROW: St. Pius X