SportsZone Football Friday game of the week preview: Jefferson City vs. Rock Bridge
Watch a replay of the game in the player.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Both the Jefferson City Jays and the Rock Bridge Bruins enter week three looking for a winning record.
With the teams set to meet Friday in the KZOU game of the week, both teams sit at 1-1 after the first two weeks of play.
You can watch the game live on KZOU over the air channel 17.3 at 7 p.m. Here is a look at other local listings:
- DirecTV - channel 18
- Dish Network - channel 32
- Mediacom - channel 12, 709
- Centurylink - channel 12
- Spectrum - channel 183
The Bruins lost the season opener at Park Hill South, but head coach Matt Perkins said they perfected some things going into week two.
"We tackled a little bit better and we finished plays a little bit better defensively," Perkins said. "That was a big focus for us throughout the week to make sure we're running our feet on contact. I thought we were better defensively and held them to seven total yards so that's exciting."
The Bruins offense is led by junior quarterback Sam Kaiser who is the cousin of Mizzou alum Drew Lock. Perkins said in week two he made some big plays down the field to help with the win.
"In June and July we saw some bad days from him where reads weren't super clear or whatever but as we rolled into August, he's been very good and very efficient," Perkins said.
The Jays started their season the opposite way, with a win to open against Osage but a tough loss in week two with Hannibal.
"When I got here last year, when we didn't win a game, that was kind of the expectation," said Jefferson City head coach Damon Wells. "Now people expect us to be able to compete with a team that competed for a state title last year."
Wells said that despite the win in week one, his team struggled with being physical. In week two, he said the tackling stepped it up a notch.
"I think because we are a young team sometimes we struggle to focus our attention where it should be focused and I do feel like we're growing in that area, especially at home on Friday night because the score aside what a cool environment," Wells said. "When people talk about Jay pride all you had to do was be present last Friday night at Adkins Stadium and it was pretty neat, pretty special."
Jefferson City will play at Battle Friday at 7 p.m.
