Through two games, the leading rusher for the Jefferson City Jays is quarterback Devin Roberson, which means the search for a workhorse running back continues.
Maleek Jackson and Prince Benson have taken the handoffs the first two weeks of the season. A couple more players may get their shot in the backfield during tonight's game against the Hickman Kewpies. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Adkins Stadium.
"We're still searching for a running back," Jefferson City coach Terry Walker said. "We're trying to find somebody that wants to run downhill and be physical. We're rotating through a bunch of guys, just trying to find the guy who really wants to embrace the physicality of the game and we're still looking."
Jake Duke, a sophomore, got playing time during last week's 30-27 win against the Hannibal Pirates, but was used mainly as a blocker.
"He had a couple nice blocks so for that reason he's getting another look this week," Walker said. "That's what we'll keep doing until we find the right guys."
Walker said Jordan Bruner, who is a starting defensive end, has worked himself into the competition. Linebacker Quinten Strobel might also get a chance at running back.
Jefferson City has totaled 58 rushing yards through two games with 23 of those being credited to Roberson.On the other side of the ball, the Jays have allowed opponents to gain nearly seven yards per carry.
"We've just got to become more physical offensively and defensively," Walker said. "We've got to learn how to tie plays together with great effort and great execution. That still eludes us on occasion."
The Jays hope they can make that happen against a Hickman team that is coming off a 34-14 loss to Helias.
"If you execute the play you can do whatever you want to do," Walker said. "It's a function of guys doing their job on each respective play and not taking any plays off. We've got some inexperience and we've got guys that don't understand the importance of a backside block or a cutoff block or what their piece is on that part of the play and they've got to embrace that and do it in order for us to have a successful play."
While the Kewpies may not know what running back they'll face, the Jays are well aware of who they'll need to stop tonight.
Running back Christian Davis will be one of two main focuses for the Jefferson City defense.
"They've got a really good running back and they've got a really good quarterback," Walker said. "They are both tough, hard-nosed runners. They've got some physicality to them, they run through tackles, so we've got to do a great job of gang tackling."
Davis racked up 121 yards and found the end zone on 21 carries against Helias last week. Jevean Brown, a junior transfer from Father Tolton, is a dual threat at quarterback.
"We're just going to try and line up and play fundamental football," Walker said. "We're going to try to be gap sound. We're going to try to understand the importance of gap discipline."
Both teams might have some weather to deal with tonight. Several games across the state were rescheduled because of the forecast of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
"I'm not worried about the weather," Walker said. "The weather is going to be what its going to be. We'll play with whatever weather we end up getting and I'm sure the best team will end up winning."
After earning their first win of the season last week against Hannibal, the Jays are looking to start 2-1 for the second straight season.
"Anytime you win a game like that you're going to gain some confidence from it, but its nothing you can rest on, its something you need to build on," Walker said. "We need to get in the mindset of we need to become a hungry football team and we need to get in the mindset of that game is over, we're on to Hickman and we need to attack Hickman with as much veracity and focus and intensity as we can."
Tonight's game is featured as part of the Great American Rivalry Series. The winning team will take home the Great American Rivalry Series trophy and the game's MVP will be recognized after the game.
The Jays hold a 57-53-4 advantage in the rivalry that dates back to 1911, including six straight victories.
The Kewpies last defeated the Jays in 2012, when Hickman won 14-9 at Adkins Stadium.
Related Media: Jefferson City Jays Football Podcast [Hickman preview, Sept. 7, 2018]