Champs Honored, Tigers Roll

Friday night (Sept. 19) was filled with nostalgia and brotherhood as Jesuit celebrated the school's "Golden Era" of cross country during the big football game vs. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman.

The members of the four State Championship teams from 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2005 – head coach Mike Boza '78, assistant Greg Maurin, and 21 Tigers from those title teams – enjoyed a pregame reception in Gonzmart Hall and then were introduced at halftime on Alumni Field.

Among them was Colin Strickland '02, who flew in to Tampa from his home in Anchorage, Alaska just for the event! Strickland endured a minimum of two flights and 10+ hours of travel time each way to reconnect with his Jesuit cross country brothers that evening.

The "Golden Era" cross country runners in attendance Friday were:

1998 – Joe Cutrono '00, Peter D’Amore '99, Brandon Gauvin '99, Angel Gomez '99, Adrian Madhosingh '00

2000 – Strickland, John Astrab '01, Matt Bishoff '02, Joe Madiedo '03, Sebring Sierra '01

2004 – Peter Bandyk '05, Andrew Boza '05, Ian Edwards '05, Andrew Massari '05, James Osborne '06, Phillip Scrivner '06

2005 – Osborne, Scrivner, Matt Hindman '07, Carson Holton '08, James Lamoureux '08, Connor Revord '09, Cade Rivard '06

The Jesuit football team obliged the special occasion by turning in a Golden-Era worthy performance, shutting out highly regarded Cardinal Newman, 31-0, to reach the midpoint of the regular season and bye week with a 4-1 record.

How good was the Jesuit D? Cardinal Newman, a State Semifinalist in 2024, was averaging 39 points a game coming in. But defensive coordinator Darrell Palmer and a swarming Tigers defense led by King Powell '27, Tripp Keller '27, and Kam Housey '27 had the answer for everything Cardinal Newman and star QB Jyron Hughley offered.

Four Tigers scored TDs - Will Griffin '26, David Hill '28, Hezekiah Davis '27, and Kaleb Smith '26 - and Davis' amazing 97-yard TD run, which made it 21-0 in the second quarter, is considered the longest rushing play in Jesuit history. Davis finished with 141 yards on 10 carries, and Griffin completed 14-of-21 passes for 201 yards and 2 TDs. 

After the bye week, join us Oct. 3 at Alumni Field as Jesuit hosts Orange City University and tries to avenge a road defeat at University last season.

Also, at halftime on Oct. 3, the school will honor Bill Shaffer, the school's phenomenally successful swim coach who passed away in December. We'll see you there!

For photos of Jesuit football, go to the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa.