Hillsboro hosts Festus football in critical county rivalry on KJFF

(Hillsboro) A conference and county rivalry is renewed with high stakes Friday on Jefferson County Friday Night Football.

For the second consecutive year, the Festus Tigers meet the Hillsboro Hawks on KJFF with first place in the MAFC Red Division on the line.

Both teams come in a with a record of 3-1.

Hillsboro pounced on North County for an impressive 42-7 win last week in their conference opener.

The Hawks have been a dominant defensive team, with 2 shutouts already this season and only allowing about 12 points per game.

Hillsboro head coach Bill Sucharski says the players are buying in to the coaching staff’s vision for the defense.

The Hawks also once again possess an electric offense.

After averaging 31 points a game in 2020, Hillsboro has scored at least 40 points in all 3 of their wins.

The dynamic duo of junior Dream Team running backs Jaxin Patterson and Austin Romaine has already combined for over 900 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns.

Sucharski says last year’s performance proved the offense can make big plays, even in a loss.

Festus has won 3 in a row since a season-opening loss to Ste. Genevieve.

The Tiger offense have been explosive all season, averaging 45 points per contest thanks to Dream Team senior quarterback Cole Rickermann.

But Festus head coach A.J. Ofodile believes the run game will determine this game for both his offense and defense.

Rickermann has a variety of dynamic weapons to throw to like junior Ahrmad Branch and seniors Isaac Stucke, Kaian Roberts-Day and Eric Reuss.

But Ofodile knows this is the start of the toughest stretch of the Tigers’ schedule.

The Tigers’ win over the Hawks last season broke a 7-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Festus faces Hillsboro Friday evening on Jefferson County Friday Night Football.

Coverage starts with the Flieg’s Equipment Pregame Show at 6 o’clock leading to kickoff at 7:30 on AM 1400 KJFF.