Losing 6,453 career rushing yards and 113 touchdowns would put a massive crater in most football teams’ lineups.
But the Jefferson Blue Jays aren’t about to become extinct like the dinosaurs just because Andrew Graves graduated this spring. Head coach Alex Rouggly said he believes he has instilled a consistency in the program that almost makes it impossible for Jefferson to slide into the abyss and become irrelevant.
Rouggly enters his fifth season at the helm and has a record of 30-13 (.698). The Blue Jays finished 2018 with a record of 9-2 after falling to Caruthersville in the Class 2 District 1 semifinals.
“The kids are taking a lot of pride in what they’re doing on the field and in the classroom,” Rouggly said. “They had a great first day (Aug. 15) of school. This is a fun, young group to be around. They’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulders. Outside of our crew, I don’t think a lot of people think the Jefferson Blue Jays are going to be a whole lot without the seniors who graduated. We believe we can have success. With their work ethic and what they’ve done in the weight room, good things are coming our way. This group excites me.”
One player Rouggly is counting on to help replace Graves’ pinball numbers is junior Colby Ott. But Ott won’t be eligible to play in the Blue Jays’ season opener at home against DuBourg on Aug. 30 because he won’t have enough practices before the game. Ott, who is 6-0, 165, is part of the Festus baseball team that competed in the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.
Rouggly said he gave Ott his blessing.
“I told him not to worry about us right now,” Rouggly said. “You focus on the Post 253 family and on winning the whole thing. We’re behind them 100 percent and support them with everything we’ve got. And I hope they bring a championship to our town.”
When describing Ott’s role on the Blue Jays this season, Rouggly used a baseball term. Ott rushed for 844 yards on 97 carries last year being used primarily as a running back. This year, he’ll be more of a utility player, lining up wherever Rouggly sees a way to exploit defenses with his speed.
“We’re going to widen him out a lot,” Rouggly said. “We want to force people to defend us on the edge. For the last few years, people have understood that we don’t throw the ball a lot. For us to beat quality teams, we have to spread the ball out and make people honor our perimeter.”
For the first time in years, Jefferson has a quarterback duel going on with sophomores Colton Richardson (6-3, 180) and Drew Breeze (5-10, 160). The two signal callers go into Friday’s jamboree with an equal opportunity to win the starting job. Tommy Moon and Brandon Perry took turns playing QB for the Blue Jays last year. Moon graduated and Perry, a senior, can play receiver or running back. Perry has had two knee surgeries the past two years.
“(Breeze) had an awesome offseason for us,” Rouggly said. “He’s doing great with his reads in the option, he’s gained 15 to 20 pounds of good weight. It’s a good battle and I love it. Both QBs will play the same amount of snaps at the jamboree. We haven’t had a lot of competition at that spot for a few years.”
Sophomores Chase Poliette and Will Breeze and junior Ethan Boyer will be plugged in at wide receiver, giving the Blue Jays a deep set. At running back, juniors Dylan and Will Schnitzler and sophomores Kyle Deevers and Karter Dowd will vie for carries. Senior Dylan Duncan will start at fullback, with sophomore Robbie Hurley and freshman Sean Usery adding depth to the backfield.
“The beautiful thing about our offense is you can have an ace like Andrew and have one like Colby Ott or Brandon Perry and Dylan Duncan,” Rouggly said. “Our offense allows for us to spread the ball year after year.”
Rouggly said 13 or 14 players can play on the offensive line. That group will be anchored by junior Dawson Jakoubek at center and junior Ethan Deal and senior Connor Surratt at guard. Jakoubek played tight end last year. Junior Steve Stephens has the left tackle job “locked up” and freshmen Mason Campbell and Konnor Armstrong and sophomore Jackson Combs are fighting to start at right tackle.
“We feel comfortable with our middle. All three of them are extremely smart,” Rouggly said.
The Blue Jays had the best points differential in the I-55 Conference last season after outscoring their opponents by an average of 39-11. Rouggly calls the defensive signals, so he pays special attention to that unit’s needs.
“We have speed coming back on defense,” he said. “We had a heck of a year last year on defense. I see the same speed this year. There are some new faces, but they’re attacking the football and are understanding their progressions and keys.”
Deal and Surratt will be fixtures on the interior of the defensive line. Stephens, Combs, Campbell and junior J.J. Irwin will rotate at the ends.
The Blue Jays are four deep at outside linebacker with junior Dalton Travica, Richardson, Drew Breeze and Perry. Like his older brother, Dakota, Dawson Jakoubek is rock solid at inside linebacker and finished last season with 93 tackles, seven for a loss, and two interceptions.
“I tell (Dawson) he’s not his brother, but he’s done things in the offseason and at camps where I have to think not to call him Dakota,” Rouggly said. “Athletically, he’s a lot stronger and put on some weight. And he’s a smart football player. When you combine those things, good things can happen.”
Sophomores Justin Mitchell (6-0, 210), Hurley and Usery will play inside linebacker. Usery is Graves’ cousin.
Jefferson’s defense collected 18 interceptions last season and Ott led the team with seven from his safety position. He’ll be joined in the defensive backfield by the Schnitzlers, Poliette and Will Breeze.
During practice last week, Drew Breeze was holding for Will Breeze during PAT attempts. Will Schnitzler has been punting the ball 45 to 50 yards in practice.
Valle Catholic has won the I-55 every year since 2012 and hasn’t lost a conference game in that span. Jefferson lost 20-0 to the Warriors last season, but the Blue Jays have chipped away at Valle’s margin of victory.
“You’ve got Valle way up here,” Rouggly said, stretching one arm above his head. “But after that, St. Vincent’s gotten better. Coach (Dan) Oliver, I have a lot of respect for what he did at Affton. I know he’s going to have some athletes (at St. Pius X).”