Walk into Adkins Stadium on a crisp Friday night and you'll feel it. It is a specific kind of electricity that only exists in places where history is literally built into the concrete. For folks in Mid-Missouri, Jefferson City Jays football isn't just a high school program; it's a legacy that has defined local sports for generations. But let’s be real—the last few years haven't looked like the 1990s.
If you grew up here, you know the names. Pete Adkins. The 71-game winning streak. The ten state titles. Honestly, there was a time when the Jays didn't just play football; they dictated how it was played in the state of Missouri. But as the 2025 season recently wrapped up, the conversation around the program has shifted from "How many titles will they win?" to "How do they get back to the top?"
The Weight of Ten State Championships
Most programs would kill for one state ring. The Jays have ten. Between 1976 and 1997, Jefferson City was essentially the final boss of Missouri Class 5A (now Class 5 and 6) football. Coach Pete Adkins, a literal legend who retired with 405 career wins, built a culture of "fundamentals over everything."
They weren't always the biggest. They weren't always the fastest. But they were always the most disciplined. That 71-game winning streak from 1959 to 1965 remains one of the most absurd statistical anomalies in high school sports history. It’s the kind of record that makes you double-check the math.
The 2025 Season: A Reality Check
The recent 2025 campaign was, well, a bit of a rollercoaster. Under Head Coach Eric Thomas, the Jays finished with a 4-6 overall record. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base that remembers the undefeated seasons of the '80s.
They started strong, picking up a solid 17-7 win against Camdenton in late August. There was hope. You could hear it in the stands. Then came the "Sullivan sweep," where the Jays took down Sullivan 32-0 and 40-14 in back-to-back weeks. For a moment, it felt like the old magic was back.
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But then the Central Missouri Activities Conference (CMAC) schedule hit. Hard.
A 45-0 shutout loss to Rock Bridge and a heartbreaking 41-35 shootout loss to cross-town rival Capital City High School stymied that early momentum. The rivalry with Helias Catholic remains as intense as ever, though the 49-14 loss to the Crusaders this past October was a reminder of the gap the Jays are currently trying to close.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Modern Jays
There’s a common narrative that the program is "down." While the win-loss column hasn't been kind lately, that’s a pretty surface-level take. Basically, the landscape of Missouri football changed. The split of the school district into Jefferson City High and Capital City High naturally thinned the talent pool.
You've also got the rise of private school powerhouses and specialized training that wasn't as prevalent during the Adkins era.
Despite the 4-6 finish in 2025, individual talent is still bubbling up at 609 Union Street. Junior running back Zavion Finney was a bright spot all season, averaging a massive 134.3 rushing yards per game and finding the end zone 15 times. Watching him hit a hole in the line is a reminder that the Jays still produce "D1" level athletes.
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On the defensive side, Nick Redcay has been a tackling machine, leading the team with over 8 tackles per game while also sliding in at quarterback when needed. That's the thing about this roster—it's gritty. They don't have the 100-man depth charts of the 1994 squad, so you see kids playing both ways and leaving everything on the turf.
The Adkins Stadium Experience
If you haven't been to a game lately, the stadium itself is still one of the best places to watch a game in the Midwest. The renovations have kept it modern—new turf, better seating, and a press box that doesn't feel like a relic—but it still keeps that "bowl" feel.
The atmosphere is kinda different now. It’s less about the arrogance of expected victory and more about the community showing up for their kids. The Marching Jays still bring the house down, and the student section, though perhaps smaller than in the '90s, is just as loud.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
- Total Offense: Heavily reliant on the run game, specifically Zavion Finney’s explosive plays.
- Defense: Victor Azuara led the pass rush with 4 sacks, showing a lot of heart in the trenches.
- Postseason: The season ended with a narrow 28-26 loss to Camdenton in the Class 5 District 5 tournament. Two points. That is how close they were to keeping the dream alive.
The Road Back to Relevance
So, what is the next step? Most experts around the Missouri High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) circle agree that stability is the key. Coach Eric Thomas and his staff, including assistants like Alex Wrigley and Nathan Redcay, are focused on the weight room and the middle school feeders.
You can't manufacture a tradition; you have to maintain it. The Jays are currently in a rebuilding phase that focuses on reclaiming the CMAC. Winning the conference is the first hurdle. Beating Helias and Capital City is the second.
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Honestly, the "Jays Pride" isn't gone. It’s just evolving. You see it in the alumni who still show up in their old varsity jackets. You see it in the kids who stay out on the field late on a Tuesday night in November just to get one more rep in.
If you want to support the program, the best thing you can do is show up. The 2026 season will be here before we know it, and with players like Finney returning for his senior year, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Keep an eye on the MSHSAA schedules for summer 7-on-7 dates. That’s usually where the first signs of a turnaround appear. The Jays might not be holding the trophy right now, but in Jefferson City, the expectation of excellence never actually leaves the building.
Go Jays.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Follow the Stats: Keep up with individual player progression via MaxPreps to see how the underclassmen are developing.
- Attend the Jamboree: The August jamborees are the best way to see the new defensive schemes before the pressure of the regular season starts.
- Support the Boosters: High school football is an arms race now; local funding for equipment and travel makes a massive difference in player retention.