DUBUQUE -- Sept. 25, 2009 is a date loyal J-Hawk fans would love to forget.

Sept. 25, 2009 is the last time the Jefferson J-Hawks won a varsity football contest.

Despite a gritty, never-say-die effort, the J-Hawks will have to wait another year for a chance to end the streak no one wants.

Jefferson traveled to the University of Dubuque football field Friday night to play host Dubuque Hempstead and attempt to end their 21-game losing streak. Despite a valiant effort, the J-Hawks came up short, dropping their season finale 35-24 and extending their Class 4A longest losing streak in the state to 22 games.

“We improved this year, we had a long way to go and just didn’t improve enough,” Jefferson Coach Jim Womochil said.

Jefferson (0-6, 0-9) put up a fight in the last game of many of the J-Hawks' football careers. Jefferson used a hurry up tempo to get their MVC worst offense moving. The J-Hawks pulled out all the stops, playing senior Alex Baxter despite a torn knee ligament (MCL) he suffered two weeks ago.

The offensive plan worked well for the J-Hawks, who put 24 points up on the board, the most since Jefferson scored 27 in a win over Linn-Mar on Oct. 16, 2008. Despite the improved offense the J-Hawks shot themselves in the foot a few too many times with penalties and turnovers.

The J-Hawk defense did its part in the effort, holding the Mustangs to 231 yards on the ground and 116 through the air. The J-Hawks had been allowing an average of 248 rushing yards a game.

Jefferson trailed 14-10 at halftime.

The J-Hawks responded with a field goal from senior kicker Andrew Patience after the Mustangs started the scoring with a touchdown run from senior Mark Owens. Jefferson had a chance to tie it up on fourth-and-goal from the 1, but a penalty took away a touchdown and the J-Hawks had to settle for three.

“All penalties and turnovers are costly. We are not an explosive team, so having points taken away hurts,” Womochil said. “Penalties and turnovers were huge (in this game).”

Jefferson senior Austin Short's 3-yard touchdown run with 30 second left in the first half cut Hempstead's lead to 14-10.

Hempstead's Layton Fritsch scored twice in the second half and the Mustangs went ahead 28-10. The second came early in the fourth quarter.

“They got up by three scores and forced us to play catch up,” Womochil said. “Playing catch up, it’s tough.”

Sophomore Layne Sullivan connected with senior Ryan Spellerberg for a 37-yard strike with just under four minutes to play. The J-Hawks recovered the ensuing onside kick, but were forced to give up the ball after a failed fourth down play. Hempstead's Drew Wagner then dashed 47 yards for a touchdown and 35-17 lead that crushed the J-Hawks' hopes.

Sullivan scored on a 1-yard keeper on the J-Hawks next possession, but the Mustangs then ran out the clock.

Jefferson failed to get in the win column for the second year in a row.

“The kids fought hard, it just wasn’t enough,” Womochil said. “It’s a great group of guys and they are going to be successful, we just weren’t a very good football team."

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD 35, JEFFERSON 24
Dubuque Hempstead  7  7  7  14 - 35
Jefferson                 0  10  0  14 - 24  
DBH – Mark Owens 2 run (Chris Francis Kick)
CRJ – Andrew Patience Kick
DBH – Jacob Hodge 7 run (Francis Kick)
CRJ – Austin Short 6 run (Patience Kick)
DBH – Layton Fritsch 5 run (Francis Kick)
DBH – Fritsch 25 run (Francis Kick)
CRJ – Ryan Spellerberg 37 pass from Layne Sullivan (Run Failed)
DBH – Drew Wagner 47 run (Francis Kick)
CRJ – Sullivan 1 run (Knox from Sullivan)

Team Stats
First Downs – Hempstead 16, Jefferson 19
Rushes yards – Hempstead 41-231, Jefferson 53-305
Receiving yards – Hempstead 116, Jefferson 85
Comp-Att-Int – Hempstead 6-19-1, Jefferson 8-21-1
Punts-avg. – Hempstead 1-40, Jefferson 3-23.3
Fumbles-Lost – Hempstead 2-2, Jefferson 3-1
Penalties-Yards – Hempstead 4-35, Jefferson 8-68
Individual Stats
Rushing – Hempstead: Layton Fristsch 14-131, Jacob Hodge 14-66, Mark Owens 5-8, Luke Ploessl 2-14, Graham Houselog 3-16, Alex Smith 1-(-5), Drew Wagner 2-35. Jefferson: Kyle Mann 16-108, Austin Short 19-94, Layne Sullivan 9-78, Tanner Lund 6-16, Alex Baxter 1-3, Drake Allen 2-6.
Passing – Hempstead: Luke Ploessl 2-20-1-108, Drew Wagner 0-1-0-0. Jefferson: Layne Sullivan 6-19-1-85
Receiving – Hempstead: Alex Smith 3-55, Travis Boleyn 1-8, Ben Goerdt 1-22, Jacob Hodge 2-22, Logan Dunwoody 1-9. Jefferson: Taylor Birkicht 1-10, Aaron Gruwell 4-42, Ryan Spellerberg 2-43.
Sophomore Score: Hempstead 16, Jefferson 12.