One for the Ages

Jesuit scored on 67- and 46-yard passes in the final four minutes of the 4th quarter to rally from an 8-point deficit to a scintillating 18-14 win Friday (Nov. 21) in a Region Semifinal game at Corral Memorial Stadium.

Facing 4th-and-8 from the Jesuit 33-yard line with just under four minutes remaining and trailing 14-6, quarterback Trent Wessel ’15 scrambled to his right and heaved one down the right sideline. Gage Holt ’15 and a Spoto defender both leaped high for the ball, and Holt hauled it in and then scampered the final 30 yards to complete the 67-yard touchdown play.

The Tigers missed the 2-point conversion and still trailed 14-12, but the defense, led by Brendon Wamsley ’15 and Nick Mosco ’17, forced a punt to get the ball back with two minutes to go. Things were getting testy again as Jesuit faced 3rd-and-4 just across midfield with a minute to go.

This time Wessel found Kevin Newman ’15 open near the far sideline for an apparent modest gain for a 1st down. However, Newman slipped a tackle attempt, juked another, and dashed 46 yards for the go-ahead score, sending the stadium into bedlam.

Mosco then recovered a fumble to quell Spoto’s last-gasp attempt, and the Tigers had snatched an 18-14 victory from the clutches of defeat.

Jesuit next plays in the Region Final at Orlando Bishop Moore on Fri. Nov. 28 at 7:30pm. The Tigers hosted Bishop Moore on Oct. 17 and raced to an early lead before Bishop Moore rallied for a 25-17 win.

Click here for video highlights from Kevin O'Donnell at FOX 13, including head coach Matt Thompson's pregame speech.

View a photo slideshow from Friday's win below: