Jays lose 23-20 heartbreaker, but progress of this team is evident
With Jays in rearview,
mirror, road ahead for
Helias may be paved
with (Blue and) Gold
Oct. 22, 2020
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- Last year marked the third straight losing season for the Jays, the fourth time that's happened in program history.
The previous? 1949-1951.
These days, people don't care what happened yesterday, let alone 70 years ago.
And they really don't care about 105 years ago.
But barring a miraculous stretch run by Jefferson City, the Jays will suffer their fourth straight losing season --- the longest in the history of the program that started in 1905.
This simply proves two things --- it's been a successful program, overall, for more than 10 decades and second, the last few years haven't been kind.
Thursday night wasn't kind, either.
Cody Gough kicked a 20-yard field as time expired to lift the Ft. Zumwalt West Jaguars to a 23-20 win over the Jays in the regular-season finale for both teams at Adkins Stadium.
The effort by the Jays has been there since the first snap of the season, the execution has not. But it's gotten considerably better as the season's progressed.
The Jays (3-6) scored on the game's second play on a 77-yard burst by junior David Bethune, who tip-toed out of a pair of tackles on his way to paydirt.
This guy is good and if the offensive line can give him more help next season, he will be next to unstoppable.
Kyle Nunn is good, too, as the Zumwalt tailback rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. In between those touchdowns, it was time for Nick Williams to shine.
The senior's interception set up the Jays at the Jags' 36, and Williams then had the scoring honors with his fingertip catch of a pass from Seth Brooks for a 31-yard touchdown.
The Jags (3-6) led 20-12 at the break, and that's where it stayed until the final frame.
Brooks, a junior, scored on a 1-yard plunge with 8:18 left to end a grueling 33-yard drive that took 10 plays and 4 1/2 minutes. Bethune submarined for the two-point conversion and it was 20-20.
But Brooks' third interception proved to be the backbreaker, setting up the game-winning field --- the second time this season the Jays have lost on a last-second field goal (Rock Bridge, 23-21).
What made it even more painful was the play to set up Gough's boot --- a 25-yard gain to the seven on a halfback pass on third-and-12 from the 32. And on a play when three Jays were surrounding the receiver.
Don't let the bad swallow up the good. Yes, the Jays --- who held Nunn to just 22 yards rushing in the second half --- are now destined to suffer their fourth straight losing season.
That, however, means nothing to this year's players or this year's first-year head coach, Scott Bailey, and his staff.
And it shouldn't.
All they could control was this season, and it was especially tough for Bailey to get full control since he was hired just 10 weeks before the season started.
That is not a recipe for success.
This isn't either --- the last four seasons, the Jays have had three head coaches.
Here's hoping Bailey is here for a long, long time. Bailey's not only a proven winner, he's a proven champion --- he won a state-record seven state championships at Lamar from 2011-2017.
Give Bailey the support he needs and deserves. More importantly, give the returning players the continuity and support they need and deserve.
Bailey will provide that.
Because he's more than just a good football coach, he's a good man.
Chris Leuckel
After taking the handoff from quarterback Seth Brooks, Jefferson City Jays running David Bethune (4) sprinted 77 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game during Thursday night's game with Ft. Zumwalt West at Adkins Stadium.
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