Jefferson City taking on No. 1 C.B.C. in St. Louis

Jefferson City quarterback Devin Roberson throws downfield during last week's game against Rock Bridge in Columbia.
Jefferson City quarterback Devin Roberson throws downfield during last week's game against Rock Bridge in Columbia.
Last week, the Jefferson City Jays' defense had the task of stopping Rock Bridge's Nate Peat, a Division I recruit at running back. They managed to step up to the challenge, except for one 73-yard touchdown.

This week, they'll face a similar challenge: covering Nebraska commit Cameron Brown.

The 6-foot-1 senior receiver was more of a short-yardage threat in last year's 65-59 defeat to the C.B.C. Cadets, catching nine passes for 90 yards. Short yardage is relative in this situation.

C.B.C. torched the Jays, passing it for more than 350 yards and running it for nearly 450. Kamryn Babb surpassed 200 receiving yards in the game, but won't be available for tonight's game in St. Louis after suffering a season-ending knee injury before the season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Cadets haven't missed a beat, averaging more than 45 points per game. Brown and Co. have kept the train barreling down the tracks for the No. 1-ranked Cadets.

"You can't emulate the speed, you can't emulate the talent," Jefferson City coach Ted LePage said. "We've seen some really good receivers this year. We've seen some guys that can go. Kirkwood had many of them, Har-Ber had them. It's not like we haven't seen guys, but this is a special player."

C.B.C. hasn't lost to a Missouri team yet. It's lone loss came in Week 2, a 36-27 defeat at C.B.C. out of Memphis, Tenn.

The Cadets have been trending upward ever since, scoring at least 40 points and allowing fewer than 20 points in four straight games.

"You're not going to see anybody as talented as this team," LePage said. "They've got talent galore. Everybody backs down for them, everybody lays down for them, everybody is scared to death of them. We're not. Why would we want to be scared of these guys?"

The Jays are 2-4 after a 32-21 loss at Rock Bridge last week in Columbia. But the loss was somewhat encouraging after holding the Bruins at bay other than a few big plays.

"We had a few minor mistakes," LePage said. "Rock Bridge is a team that is flat our getting after it. They are playing very, very well, and we had them right where we wanted them. There's some things that happened to us that we can't have that one miss, that one little thing. We're cleaning it up."

C.B.C. capitalized on mistakes in last week's 55-7 win at St. Louis University High, returning a fumble and interception for a score - both by safety Lonell Boyd.

"They're fast. They are real active. They really get after it," LePage said of the Cadets' defense. "They are very similar to what we saw last week in Rock Bridge. They are going to put seven guys in the box, they are going to try to get you and they are going to play man coverage behind."

The Jays went toe-to-toe with C.B.C.'s offense last season, compiling more than 250 yards on the ground and 300 through the air on their way to scoring 59 points.

"Last year we were able to exploit that a little bit," LePage said of the seven-man box. "Of course we had a pretty talented cast last year. We hurt them bad. I know they'll be prepared for it this year."

Passing wasn't a strong point for the Jays to start the season, but they've shown flashes of improvement the past two weeks.

Devin Roberson threw for 153 yards two weeks ago against SLUH and put up 251 yards at Rock Bridge a week ago.

"Devin has really been putting the ball on the money this week in practice,"LePage said. "We feel like we have a good combination of running and throwing the football."

Maleek Jackson, the team's leading rusher with 375 yards, split time at running back and receiver last week. That could be the case again tonight.

"You're dang right," LePage said. "We're going to use Maleek as a receiver, running back, whatever the way we can get him the ball."

The Jays have also moved Noah Jahr from linebacker to running back, but he could also line up as a receiver. J.D. Barnes, who's played linebacker in the past and some at running back this season, has been used as a receiver the past two games.

The additional options for Roberson appeared to be beneficial as he completed 14 passes to six different receivers.

"They started finding ways to get open," LePage said. "Our coaches did a really good job at designing some stuff to get open. I think that's the biggest thing we've added is our players are making plays."

Both secondaries will be tested tonight as Brett Gabbert continues to run the C.B.C. offense at quarterback.

Gabbert completed 10-of-12 passes for 219 yards and four scores last week.

"He's so savvy," LePage said. "He's able to see which defense you're in. He's very smart. He's been schooled very well. Once he knows what you're in, he knows where the open receiver is going to be. He looks right to where he needs to look to and throws the ball right where he needs to. I haven't really seen him throw a bad ball all year. Maybe under pressure, that's about it."

But C.B.C. will try to stay balanced, handing it off to running back Bryan Bradford.

"I'd actually say their running game is probably their strength,"LePage said. "That's hard to say when you say they throw the ball, but they run the ball so effectively. Their offensive line just are road graters and they do a lot of run-pass options."

Related media:

Jefferson City Jays Football Podcast [C.B.C. preview, Sept. 29, 2017]