Loeffler's Link

After quick start, Jays get
walloped rest of way by Bruins

Jefferson City Jays sophomore cornerback Devin White (8) eyes Rock Bridge senior running back and Stanford recruit Nate Peat (right), while senior defensive end and Iowa State recruit Corey Suttle (44) is in pursuit of Peat during the first quarter of Friday night's game at Adkins Stadium.

Sept. 28, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo, --- The start couldn't have been better for the Jefferson City Jays on Friday night.

It was efficient, it was solid, it was sharp.

But after that, well ...

Did I mention the Jays had a good start?

After the Jays bolted to a 14-0 lead in the game's first seven minutes, Rock Bridge outscored Jefferson City 42-7 the rest of the way as the Bruins breezed to a 42-21 win Friday night at Adkins Stadium.

The smaller picture for the Jays is the disappointment of this result.

The bigger picture is that this will likely end the Jays' hopes of hosting a first-round district game, as they entered Friday night ranked No. 5 in the district standings --- while Rock Bridge was No. 3 and No. 4 Troy was also a winner Friday night.

That would likely mean this season's home schedule will conclude in the first week of October, as the Jays host DeSmet next Friday for homecoming.

When's the last time that happened?

But first things first.

The Jays (3-3) put together a six-play, 77-yard drive on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead. The big play was a 52-yard run by senior Maleek Jackson to advance it to the one, before senior quarterback Devin Roberson scored on a sneak the next play with 7:24 left in the first quarter.

After the Bruins (4-2) went three-and-out, it was once again the tandem of Jackson-Roberson that made it 14-0.

This was a 43-yard drive, eight-play drive that was capped on another 1-yard plunge by Roberson, a score that was set up by a 22-yard dash by Jackson, who finished with 157  yards rushing --- with the bulk of those yards coming in the first quarter.

It was looking good for the Jays ... until it didn't.

The Bruins fired back with two touchdowns before the half to tie it 14-14, the first score coming on a 43-yard run by explosive senior running back Nate Peat --- who's committed to Stanford --- late in the first quarter. The second was a Wyatt Towe 2-yard run with 4:25 left before the break.

Then came a sequence in the third quarter that was a microcosm of this game --- as well as a flashback to the bad memories from Jefferson City's 49-42 overtime loss to Chaminade last week.

This sequence was good for the Jays, then bad for the Jays ... followed by two game-changing touchdowns when the other team's offense wasn't even on the field.

After the teams swapped fumbles on back-to-back plays, the Jays got it back and scored three plays later on Roberson's 25-yard run to give the Jays a 21-14 with 8:02 left in the third.

On this night, would be the last hurrah for the Jays.

On the ensuing kickoff, Martez Manuel returned it 99 yards for a touchdown and it was 21-21.

On the Jays ensuing possession, Manuel snagged a tipped-ball interception and returned it 79 yards for a scored and it was 28-21. And as it turned out, it was over.

If there's any silver lining, at least the speedy Manuel has committed to Mizzou.

Those two plays were the flashback because against Chaminade, there was a blocked punt returned for a touchdown against the Jays, as well as two interceptions that were returned for scores.

The Jays never threatened again, while the Bruins --- who've now beaten the Jays four of the last five --- finished the scoring with runs of 7 and 81 yards by Peat, who finished with 211 yards on 26 carries.

Tough night for the Jays and an old lesson was learned once again --- It's not how you start, but it's how you finish.