The Jefferson R7 Blue Jays are coming off the most successful and prolific season in school history. After going 2-2 to start the season, the Jays rattled off seven straight wins as Head Coach Alex Rouggly led his squad all the way to the Final Four of the State Championship. Something just clicked and Jefferson turned into a powerhouse, cruising to a Division Title and Conference Championship. They downed St. Pius, Kelly, Central and Duschene before falling to a powerful Lamar team in in the Class 2 State Semifinals. R-7 graduated the bulk of their weapons, but have several underclassmen ready and capable to fill those shoes. But if anyone can squeeze the most success out of a young team it’s Coach Rouggly.
Week 1: 8/27 Fredericktown
The first game of the 2021 season should be a favorable matchup for the Blue Jays as they take on a struggling Fredericktown program. The Black Cats were just 1-7 last season and, even with a depleted R7 roster, they will likely have their hands full at the annual Jefferson Jamboree. Last year the Blue Jays won in convincing fashion with a 41-6 drubbing of Fredericktown.
Week 2: 9/03 @ Cuba
Week two gets a lot tougher as the Blue Jays travel to Cuba to take on the Wildcats. Last year this 6-4 Cuba team handed Jefferson a 37-21 loss, and traveling to their home turf won’t make things easier. The Wildcats have been a spur in the saddle, so to speak, since 2014 as the Blue Jays have yet to win in both their matchups.
Week 3: 9/10 Herculaneum
The second matchup against a Black Cats squad should be just as favorable as the first. Herculaneum was also just 1-7 last year and Jefferson has historically dominated them. The Blue Jays have won six in a row and are 7-2 against Herky since 2012, which includes last season’s 54-0 beat down. This should be a winnable game for R7.
Week 4: 9/17 @ St. Pius X
The St. Pius X Lancers had a tough season in 2020, as they went just 3-7 over the full campaign. The Blue Jays contributed to that with a dominant 33-0 shutout last year, but historically they haven’t been quite as successful against the Lancers. They’ve lost two of the last three matchups, but do hold a slight overall edge since 2012 with a 6-5 record in head-to-head play.
Week 5: 9/24 Bayless
A seldom seen opponent in the Bayless Broncos for week five is anybody’s guess. Due to Covid issues last year the Broncos were just 1-3 in a truncated season, and likely didn’t get to showcase their full potential. Home field advantage will likely determine the edge between these two unfamiliar foes, soooo… advantage Jays.
Week 6: 10/1 @ Valle Catholic
The 9-1 Goliath in the form of the Valle Catholic Warriors will certainly represent the Blue Jays’ biggest challenge to date. R7 has struggled overall as a program against the juggernaut Warriors and are 0-9 against them dating back to 2012. Last year Valle handed Jefferson a convincing 47-13 loss and they should be loaded once again in 2021. The Blue Jays will be looking for their first win in a decade against the Warriors, and on Valle’s home turf no less.
Week 7: 10/8 Grandview
The Grandview Eagles don’t pose as ominous a threat as the Blue Jays’ previous opponent, and R7 has managed to dominate the Eagles the last nine seasons going 9-0 since 2012. Last year Jefferson put up a 54-0 no doubter against Grandview, and will look to carry over some of that momentum into this season’s tilt. In 2020 the Eagles managed a respectable 5-4 overall record.
Week 8: 10/15 Chaffee
Much like both Black Cats, the Chaffee Red Devils struggled mightily last season. They held just a 1-7 record and were handily worked over by the Blue Jays (amongst other teams). In 2020 R7 won their matchup 50-6 and have now won seven straight games against Chaffee. Overall they are 7-2 since 2012, so this should be a winnable game.
Week 9: 10/22 @ St. Vincent
The St. Vincent Indians had a solid season last year, going 6-3, but have struggled against the Blue Jays in recent years. Last year’s matchup was a close 35-28 nail-biter that landed the Jays’ way, and they now hold a 6-3 advantage over the last decade. R7 is 3-1 in their last four meetings with the Indians and will try to make it 4-1 in the regular season finale.
Football is unpredictable by nature, so this 2021-22 season is sure to be filled with surprises, along with fulfilled expectations. Any given Friday…
Good luck Blue Jays!
