Could it be that a trip to Bayless High School was just what the doctor ordered for the Jefferson R7 High School football team? Time will tell.
The Blue Jays, who came into the game averaging just over 13 ppg, exploded Friday night for a 42-6 win over the Bronchos.
Running back Sean Usery has been a major contributor all season, but the Senior had a game to remember with 291 yards rushing and 4 TDs.
Usery got his memorable night underway in the first quarter with a 37-yard run to the end zone. The extra point put the Blue Jays up 7-0. But, that was just the appetizer for his feast to come later in the game.
It stayed 7-0 into the second quarter when Usery took it to the house from 63 yards out to make it 14-0. As impressive as that run was, it would not be Usery’s longest of the game.
Sam Stokes got in on the fun later in the second quarter when he ran it in from six yards out to make the score 21-0 at halftime.
Bayless scored the only points of the third quarter on a 23-yard pass to make it 21-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Kole Williams helped dash any hopes of a comeback from the homestanding Bronchos with a three yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put Jefferson up 28-6.
Then, fittingly, it was Usery who slammed the door shut on Bayless.
He saved his longest run of the night for his next touchdown, taking it in from 77 yards out. The PAT made it 35-6.
Then for good measure Usery scored again, on his shortest TD run of the game, this time from 13 yards out. Another successful extra point made the final 42-6.
Usery’s four touchdown runs totaled 190 yards. On top of his breakout rushing effort, he also had ten tackles on defense. Safe to say the young man probably slept well Friday night.
He wasn’t the only standout performer for the Blue Jays though.
In addition to his touchdown run, Stokes continued his tremendous play on defense with a team-high 11 tackles and a sack. Mikey Frisk and Max Schnitzler showed they also have a knack for finding the football with seven tackles apiece, while Gavin Theodoro was disruptive as well with three pass deflections.
If the offense can continue to find its footing, the second half of the season could be fun for the Blue Jays and their fans, because the defense has been consistently strong all season allowing just 12.6 ppg.
With the win, Jefferson improved to 2-3 on the season. The Blue Jays return home on Friday, September 30th against another 2-3 squad in Perryville. The Pirates also own a blowout win over Bayless and are coming off their second victory of the season against Grandview. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
