It's hard to believe it had been nearly three years - and nearly one full class of students - since Jefferson had won a football game.

Until last Friday night.

It was Sept. 25, 2009, a foggy night in Dubuque, when Jefferson defeated Dubuque Senior, 20-13. That was the last time the J-Hawks had tasted a varsity football victory.

Until last Friday night.

The J-Hawks broke a 24-game losing streak last Friday night, defeating Dubuque Hempstead 12-7 at Chalmers Field on the campus of the University of Dubuque.

What had started back in 2009 as a monkey, had grown into a gigantic over-sized gorilla on the back of the J-Hawks. But, the gorilla is gone, and in its place is both a sense of relief and pride. Pride that a once proud program can make its way back up the mountain to the top of the Class 4A football world.

Yes it's only one win, but this week the pace has picked up on the West Side. Our radio station is located in southwest Cedar Rapids, so I get a chance to interact with many west siders on a daily basis. Many of them are talking about the win by the J-Hawks, and what it means to the students, athletes, parents and alumni of Jefferson. I've heard stories about how they found out about the win and one common thread in each of the tales is relief. Now that the J-Hawks have knocked down the door and finally got a win on the field, how the second, third and so on down the line should come easier.

My right-hand man in the broadcast booth is former Jefferson coach and student John Hegarty, and he was one of those individuals excited by the triumph.

John is the best color commentator in the business, and though he is a J-Hawk through and through, he does a great job of not being biased on the air. John always receives text updates on the Jefferson games during our broadcasts and over the past few years there was little good news to share.

When he shared the news about the J-Hawks' fourth-quarter lead last Friday there was a smile on his face, but he didn't say much, hoping to not jinx the outcome. When he found out the final score during our post-game show last Friday, he couldn't help but let out a big smile and when he showed me the final score I joined him in the smile.

That's just one of hundreds of stories I know that went through the West Side last Friday night when people found out about the outcome.

There is still a mountain of work to be done. New Coach Brian Webb knew this when he took the job, coming to Jefferson from a terrific program a Carroll Kuemper. He is looking to instill discipline and a sense of pride back to the Columbia Blue and White. He needs to get the kids excited, especially the younger groups about J-Hawk football.

There is much work to be done, but the J-Hawks took a big stride last Friday night.

(Scott Unash is the sports and program director at KGYM-AM 1600 (FM 107.5 and 106.3). He is a six-time winner of the Iowa Broadcast News Association play-by-play Announcer of the Year Award. Scott and Mark Dukes co-host the Gym Class weekdays from 3-4 p.m. on KGYM-AM 1600, FM-107.5 and FM-106.3)



Congratulations, Jefferson on your one game winning streak.