JEFFERSON CITY • Fort Zumwalt West needed 44 yards. Instead it got 50.
Faced with a third-and-44 from its own 20-yard line late in the first half Friday night, Drew Hare connected with Matt Quarles over the middle for a 50-yard completion. A few plays later, visiting West was in the end zone and on its way to a 49-21 victory against previously undefeated Jefferson City.
The victory clinched the Class 6 District 6 title for the Jaguars.
“I’m really proud of our kids,” Zumwalt West coach Paul Day said. “We created seams and when we created seams, our running backs are pretty talented.”
The play near the end of the first half was a microcosm of how the night went for both teams.
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The Jaguars (7-2 and No. 4 in the STLhighschoolsports.com large-schools rankings) moved the ball down the field most of the night against Jefferson City’s defense.
A good bit of Zumwalt West's offense came courtesy of quarterback Drew Hare. The senior completed 23 of 32 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
He set the tone on the game’s opening drive as he guided the Jaguars on a 16-play, 77-yard drive to go ahead 7-0. It was the first time Jefferson City had trailed this season.
“They were just able to line up and complete the ball,” Jays head coach Ted LePage said. “Our pass rush was good at times, our secondary was good at times, but it seemed like whenever they needed a good play, they came up with one.”
The Jays (8-1) responded with a five-play, 70-yard drive capped off on a 5-yard touchdown run by Devon Moore to tie the score 7-7.
There were fireworks in the aftermath of Moore's TD as both teams returned kickoffs for touchdowns. Kyle Echols put Zumwalt West up 14-7 with a 95-yard return, and Elijah Sherwood answered for Jefferson City 12 seconds later with an 85-yard score.
But from that point on, the Jaguars were in control. Hare took advantage of Jefferson City’s secondary, which played several yards off the ball most of the game.
“We just get the ball to the open receivers and they’ll do something special,” Hare said.
Hare put Zumwalt West up for good with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Echols late in the first quarter.
Hare made it 26-14 with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quarles.
Then came the long third-down conversion. After a holding penalty and a sack put the Jaguars in a hole, they showed it was their night.
“You don’t have a lot on the board for third-and-44,” Day joked. "That was a huge play.”
Jefferson City kept it close as Moore scored on an 8-yard run with 2:13 left in the third quarter to make the score 33-21.
But Zumwalt West punted just twice and did not commit a turnover as it outgained Jefferson City 427-226. Jefferson City had just 14 offensive points. It entered the game averaging more than 40 points per game.
Moore led the Jays with 111 yards rushing on 18 carries. Thomas LePage finished nine of 23 for 114 yards.
Teddy Williams led the Jaguars with 66 yards rushing. Quarles finished with eight catches.
“It’s no secret when you’ve got great talent you’ve got to get them executing,” Day said. “When they do, they’re were pretty tough.”
The Jaguars finish the regular season Friday against Troy.
