Loss leaves Hickman football team out of playoffs

COLUMBIA – The Hickman football team’s season came to an end Friday night, after it lost 33-30 to visiting Jefferson City in Class 6, District 6 competition. The Kewpies finished the season 7-3, just missing a berth in the state playoffs.

The Jays scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds left to take the three-point lead. Hickman drove into Jefferson City territory and had a chance to tie the game, but kicker Stephen Peel missed a 43-yard field goal to the right with 2 seconds left.

“He’s just been tremendous,” Hickman coach Jason Wright said of Peel. “He’s been punting the heck out of the ball and kicking the heck out of the ball.”

Hickman had its biggest lead of the night after the kickoff to start the second half. Kewpies freshman Spenser Washington recovered a muffed return in the end zone for a touchdown to put Hickman ahead 24-13.

“It gave us a little bit of room, because I didn’t know if we were going to be able to slow them down or not,” Wright said.

The Kewpies weren't able to hold on, however. The Jays scored 20 consecutive points to end the game and Hickman's chances of playing next week.

Senior quarterback Doug Luetjen completed 11-of-18 passes for 151 yards, as senior wide receiver Tucker Bounds catching eight Luetjen’s throws for 91 yards. Senior running back Rob Heath rushed for 134 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, despite missing most of the fourth quarter after suffering a leg injury.

“We just all fought together,” Hickman senior lineman Phil Washington said. “The guys that got hurt kept up on the sidelines, and some of them even played with injuries.”

Fort Zumwalt West defeated Fort Zumwalt South 54-20 Friday night, leaving Fort Zumwalt West, Hickman and Jefferson City tied in the district standings at 2-1. Fort Zumwalt West advances to the state playoffs by finishing with the highest tiebreaker margin at plus-19 points, just six points ahead of Hickman.