One More Time

It was deja vu all over again for Jesuit football on Friday night (Nov. 4) at Tampa Catholic. The Tigers closed the regular season by defeating rival TC for the 17th straight time, 34-14, and Malik Davis ’17 had another epic game against the Crusaders.

Davis rushed for 323 yards on 25 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. It marked the second-highest single-game rushing total in school history – behind Davis’ 357 vs. TC last season. And it lifted Davis past the 1,000 yard mark for his 4-year career against the Crusaders, with a remarkable 1,008 yards on 118 carries and 7 TDs.

As superlative as Davis was, it was a total team effort by the Tigers in front of an overflow crowd of supporters, with Jesuit fans crammed in the visitors bleachers and three-deep along the railing, as well as occupying the stands of an adjacent baseball field.

Travell Harris ’17 also scored two TDs for Jesuit, opening and closing the scoring with a 40-yard TD reception in the 1st quarter and a back-breaking 85-yard TD scamper in the 4th quarter. Davis (24 TDs) and Harris (13 TDs) have combined for 37 touchdowns this season in 9 games. Except for the first game of the season, both Davis and Harris have scored in every game.

The offensive and defensive lines controlled the line of scrimmage throughout. The defense, led by LB Braden Gilby ’18 and Nick Polo '18, who had an interception and a fumble recovery, gang-tackled all over the field, and K Camden Bauman ’17 made two field goals and all four extra points.

Jesuit also earned its 21st consecutive regular season win, dating back to the end of 2014, when the Tigers defeated Middleton and TC to close the regular season. In 2015, Jesuit was 10-0 in the regular season, and the Tigers complete the regular season this fall 9-0.

Next week the Tigers, who captured the District title for the 4th straight season, open the Class 5A State playoffs with a home game vs. Gibbs at 7:30pm.

View a photo slideshow from Friday’s win below.