Regardless of the number of players lost to graduation each spring, Jefferson football has shown a consistent ability to churn out winning records.
A new era for the Blue Jays kicks off next week now that former head coach Alex Rouggly has moved up to high school principal and last year’s I-55 Conference offensive most valuable player, quarterback Drew Breeze, has graduated. Under Rouggly the last seven years, Jefferson was 51-24 and reached the Class 2 semifinals for the first time in 2020.
It’s new head coach Matt Atley’s turn to keep the tradition going after serving as Rouggly’s assistant since 2015 and offensive coordinator the last four years.
“This is a great group of kids and it’s hard not to have fun with them,” Atley said. “We’ve got a good group of seniors and a big freshman class of 17 or 18 kids. All the way through, we have good numbers.”
The Blue Jays finished last season 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the I-55 Conference. Their conference loss was to St. Pius X on the last play of the game. Despite holding a higher seed than Kelly in the Class 2 District 1 playoffs, Jefferson saw its season end at home 22-21.
With Rouggly calling the defensive plays, the Blue Jays shut out four teams. “Our defense will be similar, with some twists,” Atley said.
Returning to anchor both sides of the line is senior Konner Armstrong, selected to the first team in the I-55 both ways last season. Armstrong showed his athletic chops back in the spring, winning the Jefferson County Activities Association championship in the shot put and qualifying for the Class 2 state track and field finals.
“He was a force for us on the line last year,” Atley said.
While the Blue Jay skill positions took a hit from the graduation of Breeze (1,546 yards passing, 15 touchdowns) and rushing/receiving threat Will Breeze, Armstrong is one of four offensive linemen returning. The others are seniors Mason Campbell and Brady Sadler and junior Clayton Fogelbach. Two seniors are battling for the fifth starting job.
“It’s hard to replace experience,” Atley said. “It’s one of those positions where if you have five players and each (lineman) makes a mistake, the crowd notices. So when they play together and have continuity, we’re going to have some fun.”
The quarterback job is an open competition between junior Kole Williams, a receiver last year whom Atley described as a “big-time JV player,” and sophomore Karson Haefner, who had the upper hand after a week of practice.
“The work they put in in the offseason is phenomenal,” the coach said. “They’ll both be on the field this season in some capacity.”
Senior Sean Usery begins his third season in the Jefferson backfield at fullback. Usery ground out 388 yards last year and eight of his 72 carries were for TDs. Seniors Sam Stokes and Gavin Theodoro and junior Mikey Frisk also play running back. Stokes averaged 7.5 yards per carry in 2021 on 60 attempts for 452 yards, with six touchdowns.
“They’re a versatile group that we can move around and have some fun with,” Atley said.
At receiver, senior Nate Breeze returns after catching nine passes for 100 yards last year. He’s joined by seniors Kayden Rundel and Brandon Burford, a new student at the school. Burford also has done some kicking in training camp. Will Breeze made 82 extra-point tries the last two years, 41 each season.
“(Burford) can kick the extra point,” Atley said.
Sadler and Campbell will line up with Armstrong on the defensive line. Stokes and Usery are mobile, intuitive outside linebackers and Frisk and Nate Bernatow will play inside linebacker. The secondary will have to replace Nate Breeze and Will Breeze, who helped lock down opposing receivers for years, both earning all-conference honors. Atley is looking for a new group to do the same.
“What we’ve seen so far (back there) has looked good; I hope we can keep that going,” he said.
Theodoro and junior James Heberle are handling the punting duties so far.
For the third straight season, the Blue Jays open against Fredericktown, which they’ve beaten by a combined score of 91-6 the last two years. From Sept. 9 through Oct. 7, Jefferson will play five conference opponents in a row.
“The intensity has been high and the excitement’s been there, which I think is important, especially early during those hot days,” Atley said last week at practice. “There’s a lot of good leadership. If we can keep that going, we’ll be just fine when the season begins.
“Our conference is obviously getting better. St. Vincent is always a tough game. Herculaneum last year was one of the best teams they’ve had in a while. St. Pius is always a battle. Grandview had a good season. I know they lost some players, but I think they’ll keep going in the right direction.
“I want to do what’s best for the kids and the community and keep going in the right direction.”
Jefferson Blue Jays (I-55 Conference)
2021: 7-3
Aug. 26 at Fredericktown, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 Cuba, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 9 at Herculaneum, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 16 St. Pius X, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 23 at Bayless, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 30 Perryville, 7 p.m.
*Oct. 7 at Grandview, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Ste. Genevieve, 7 p.m.
*Oct. 21 St. Vincent, 7 p.m.