SportsZone Football Friday game of the week preview: Jefferson City vs. Hickman
Watch a replay of the game in the player above.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
We have a long-time rivalry for the game of the week in week six as the Hickman Kewpies host the Jefferson City Jays.
The matchup is known to be the second longest running rivalry in the state of Missouri behind only the Kirkwood and Webster Groves rivalry that has been played since 1907.
These two teams will Friday in the KZOU game of the week. 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
Hickman had a tough start to the season, but secured its first win last week winning 38-26 over Smith-Cotton putting them at 1-4 on the season.
"Hopefully that momentum carries into this week not only in preparation but emotionally and mentally what we need to do to be successful," said Hickman head coach Cedric Alvis.
In week five, Alvis said the biggest growth that he saw in his team was that they didn't beat themselves. He said this was done by limiting penalties, turnovers and having some big stops on defense.
"We just have to repeat the things that we've been doing," Alvis said. "In terms of effort, doing all the little things, the small details, making sure we do the small things that way we can take care of the bigger ones."
On the opposite side, Jefferson City is coming off of a tough cross-town loss against Capital City making the Jays record 2-3.
"I think we're in great shape," said Jays head coach Damon Wells. "We have had the lead or been tied at every game we've played this year and we have played some legitimate competition."
Wells says this has proved that Jefferson City can compete with anyone and now they have to get to a point where winning becomes a habit.
"There are four steps to rebuilding a program. You lose big, then you lose small, then you win small and then you win big," Wells said. "As much as anyone I want to fast forward to the fourth phase, but when you look at our scores even Friday night, we're winning at half time."
The two teams first met in 1911, but actually started meeting every year in 1919. Both coaches say this game is all about tradition.
"This is one of those games that no matter what class you're in you always come back and ask about the Jeff City game," Alvis said.
"It's an honor and a privilege to say you had even a small part in such a storied history," Wells said. "We've played them here so I've already been a little part of it, but I here it's quite the experience going up there to play so I look forward to that experience."
Jefferson City will meet Hickman at Alumni Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.
