Jefferson Football

J-Hawks begin tough schedule with No. 8 Linn-Mar

Seven football teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference received votes in the Associated Press poll this week.

The Jefferson J-Hawks are scheduled to play six of them this year, all but Iowa City High.

Some teams can't catch a break.

Jefferson begins its rigorous campaign Thursday night by hosting No. 8 Linn-Mar in the 2011 opener at Kingston Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

The J-Hawks lost all nine of their games last season and have dropped 13 straight. They haven't won a game since beating Dubuque Senior, 20-13, on Sept. 25, 2009.

It's been 23 months since Jefferson last won a high school football game.

"To be honest with you, you guys from the media are the ones who brought it to my attention that it's been 13 in a row," Coach Jim Womochil said Wednesday.

"Obviously there's anxiety around here to be successful," he said. "And to say that you're not aware of it and it doesn't grow on your kids and your staff, I'd be lying."

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Jeff football team helping Habitat for Humanity

The Jefferson High School football program will be partnering with Buffalo Wild Wings and Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity on Monday to help raise money for a good cause.

Buffalo Wild Wings is running an August promotion on Monday nights from 4 to 9 p.m. With a coupon, 10 percent of your food purchases will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. The coupon is available for download here.

The J-Hawks are planning to go to the Edgewood Road Buffalo Wild Wings after practice Monday night and have supper to help Habitat for Humanity raise money to build new homes or rehab older homes to help provide decent, affordable housing.

“I used to do some volunteer work for Habitat, and it is a worthwhile cause,” said Jim Womochil, head coach of the J-Hawks. “We see opportunities for service as an important part of community responsibility.”

If you have a group or organization that would like to contribute in this way on a Monday night in August, please contact Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity at 319-366-4485.

Womochil, Baxter think J-Hawks can turn it around

The Jefferson J-Hawks are talking about winning some football games this season.

They're talking about making the playoffs.

More than anything, they're talking about pride in themselves and pride in the program.

"One of my goals - and for a lot of the guys - is not necessarily measured in the wins and losses," senior quarterback Alex Baxter said. "We want to win some respect back from the other schools. That's one of the biggest things."

The J-Hawks lost all nine of their games last season by an average margin of 44-8. They've lost 13 straight games, matching the second-longest losing streak in Class 4A, and they've dropped 19 of their last 20 games overall.

"We'll see how we compare to some other teams, but I know at this point and time we're better than we were last year," Coach Jim Womochil said Tuesday on the second day of practice.

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2011 Jefferson football schedule

Thur., Aug. 25 -- Linn-Mar vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 2 -- Jefferson vs. Washington at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Thur., Sept. 8 -- Waterloo East vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 16 -- Jefferson at Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome), 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 23 -- Iowa City West vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 30 -- Kennedy vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 7 -- Jefferson at Prairie, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 14 -- Xavier vs. Jefferson at Kingston Stadium, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 21 -- Jefferson at Dubuque Hempstead (U. of Dubuque), 7:15 p.m.