Here Come The Tigers

Malik Davis ’17 had 198 yards rushing on 18 carries with four touchdowns, all in the first half, and the Jesuit defense was stifling throughout in a 39-3 season-opening win Thursday (Aug. 25) over Lakewood Ranch.

Davis, ranked the No. 1 football player in the Tampa Bay area by the Tampa Bay Times, picked up where he left off last season. In 2015, Davis rushed for a school-record 2,337 yards and 28 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to a 13-1 record and State semifinal berth.

The defense and special teams were outstanding Thursday. Lakewood Ranch’s only score, a field goal, came on a short field after a Jesuit turnover. The swarming, smothering Tiger defense, led by ends Anthony Nelson ’18 and Nick Terrana ’18, harassed the Mustangs’ ballcarriers all night. A huge, raucous Blue Tide student support section set the tone for the team’s performance with a big pregame tailgate and vociferous cheering.

Kicker Camden Bauman ’17 was 3-for-3 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals, and Aidan Swanson ’19 hit every kickoff into the end zone and had a 54-yard punt.

The Tigers play at Ocala Trinity Catholic next Friday (Sept. 2).

Click here for a Tampa Bay Times story about the game.

View a photo slideshow from Friday's game below, and a video of the Blue Tide storming out of the Tigers' Den below that.