Tigers Trounce Warriors

Led by a devastating defense and balanced, opportunistic offense, Jesuit football cruised past Steinbrenner on Friday night (Sept. 7), 35-10.

The Tigers improved to 2-0 heading into next Friday’s (Sept. 14) big District clash vs. Jefferson at Corral Memorial Stadium. The Tigers and Dragons have finished 1st and 2nd in the District for the past several seasons, and they split two very close games in 2017, with Jefferson winning in the regular season and Jesuit winning in the playoffs.

Also next week, at halftime, the 1968 Jesuit State Champion football team will be honored on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

On Friday, the Tiger defense stymied Steinbrenner for the first three quarters, allowing only a field goal as Jesuit staked a 35-3 lead. And the field goal came on a possession Steinbrenner started at the Jesuit 25.

Linemen Raleigh Oxendine ’20, Patrick Leone ’19, and Jacob Tauber ’19 controlled the line of scrimmage, while linebackers Jaden Pask ’19, Brett Gerena ’20, Christian Beatty ’19, and Emy Okeke ’21 racked up the tackles.

On offense, Kiael Kelly ’21 (pictured on the homepage) threw three touchdown passes for the second straight game, one apiece to Junior Vandeross ’22 (50 yards), Jonathan Odom ’20 (29 yards), and Larry Hodges ’19 (20 yards).

Vandeross made big plays on both sides of the ball. At cornerback, he deflected a ball that was intercepted by Zach Meurer ’19, and on the game’s final play Vandeross made an interception.

Jesuit’s three-pronged running attack of Matthew Pittman ’19 (who had a 3-yard touchdown run), Rick Parks ’21 (who also had a 3-yard TD run), and Nick Spurlin ’20 helped keep the Tigers in command throughout, running behind an offensive line of Trevor Mayberry ’20, Jake Lewis ’19, Cooper Lufkin ’20, Greg Gyenis ’20, and Connor McLaughlin ’20.

On special teams, Cade Freeman ’20 was 5-for-5 on extra points, and Dane Belton ’19 had a 54-yard punt.

View below a photo slideshow from the win over Steinbrenner: