Against the Raiders, Blue Jays Dig Themselves a Deep Hole

Posted October 19, 2015 / Last updated October 21, 2015

Jays Play the Shaw Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 24

Kalija Lipscomb hugs the sideline as he races 80 yards to put the Jays on the scoreboard against Rummel in Saturday night’s game.

View the Photo Gallery of the Jesuit – Rummel Game

View the Jesuit Football Photo Galleries

When the clock at Tad Gormley Stadium showed 0:00 on Saturday night, the final score was 28-14. Rummel had the 28 points, Jesuit had 14. How many fans realized that it was the same score, although reversed, as the 2014 season’s semifinal playoff game? Last year the Jays lost to Rummel, 10-7, during the regular season, but that semifinal game at Gormley a few weeks later was all-Jesuit. The 28-14 win in the semifinals was a shock to the Raiders and catapulted the Blue Jays to their first state football championship in 54 years.

Linebacker Cameron Crozier (54) and defensive back Mark Beebe (22) team up to stop this Raider’s progress.

But that chapter is closed and this past Saturday’s game against Rummel is also history. Played before a sparse crowd of fans from both schools (supposedly, LSU playing Florida sapped the attendance of anything prep that evening), this district contest, when it was over, had sucked the wind from the wings of the Blue Jays.

The Jays are 2-5 overall and 0-4 in district. Jesuit’s next opponent is Archbishop Shaw. That game is scheduled Saturday, Oct. 24, at Hoss Memtsas Stadium on the Westbank with kickoff at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Jesuit switchboard all this week from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children (ages 6-11). Faculty and student IDs, along with season passes, will be accepted at Hoss Memtsas Stadium. All tickets purchased at the gate are $8.

The Jays spotted the Raiders two touchdowns in the first quarter, a 14-0 lead equivalent to the large hole the Jays had dug for themselves. When quarterback Peter Hontas connected with Kalija Lipscomb on a short pass that the senior wide receiver turned into an 80-yard sprint into Rummel’s end zone, there was a glimmer of hope for the Jays.

But the Raiders came right back with a long drive and took a 21-7 lead into the locker room. Jesuit appeared flat and Rummel made it 28-7 early in the fourth quarter. The Jays tacked on their second TD on a Hontas to Bryce Musso 21-yard touchdown pass with under a minute left in the game.

Malachi Hull tacks on some 25 yards after catching a pass.

As they say, too little, too late.

“We couldn’t get anything going on offense and that’s kind of what you expect from a great defensive football team,” said Coach Mark Songy, adding that Rummel has “a terrific defense, great speed, and they’re well-coached. Honestly, the way we approach everything each week, we just come out and prepare for each ball game separately. We never look forward, we never look back. It’s just going to be more of the same.

“Up until tonight, we were a play away from making some great things happen,” he told reporters on the field. “But Rummel’s a great football team and they had something to say about that. We had some dropped passes tonight and Peter (Hontas) threw some good balls at the same time. We need to have those drops back because those are hugely important.”

Read More…

The New Orleans Advocate: Rummel wins ugly, holds off Jesuit

Nola.com: Rummel too physical for Jesuit in 28-14 Catholic League victory

Galleries

Football 2015 (Week 7): Jesuit (14) vs. Rummel (28); Tad Gormley Stadium; Saturday, October 17

Linebacker Cameron Crozier (54) and defensive back Mark Beebe (22) team up to stop this Raider's progress.
Bryce Musso snags this pass and stays in bounds. Musso had six receptions for 67 yards. Coming into the game, Musso had three receptions for 32 yards.
Malachi Hull holds on to this pass from Peter Hontas...
... Malachi Hull's catch is good for 32 yards.
Through Week 7, Malachi Hull has 14 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
With one second remaining in the first half, Peter Hontas throws to the corner of the end zone where Kalija Lipscomb, guarded by a trio of Raiders, leaps high and almost makes the catch for what would have been a touchdown. (Photo courtesy of Ron Brocato)
Jandon Briscoe intercepts a Raider pass...
... Jandon Briscoe's interception, his second of the season, is returned 16 yards. Defensive back Patrick Spiers (19) appears to be standing on top of Briscoe, but it's just the angle of the camera shot.
A sparse crowd on both sides of Tad Gormley Stadium was partially blamed on the LSU-Florida game.
Connor Prouet and the Blue Jays' running game were pretty much shut down by the Raiders' defense. Prouet had 11 carries for 38 yards.
Jesuit Cheerleaders Sabrina Junius with junior Jason Grana and Cassidy Colombo with senior Tyrus Norcisse. Junius, a junior, and Columbo, a senior, are students at Mount Carmel Academy.
A pass intended for Kalija Lipscomb is picked off by a Raider defender in the Rummel end zone.
With one minute left to play, Peter Hontas throws to Bryce Musso who catches the pass on the three-yard line and bulls his way into the end zone for the Jays' second touchdown. It's Musso's first touchdown of the season.
Through Week 7, Kalija Lipscomb has 37 receptions for 600 yards and five touchdowns.
The Raiders and the Jays meet on the field after the game.
Coach Mark Songy congratulates Rummel coach Jay Roth.
The Blue Jays sing the Alma Mater.
The Jesuit Cheerleaders prepare to disburse after a pep talk by their co-moderator, Br. Billy Dardis, S.J. '58 (lower right).
Kalija Lipscomb is congratulated by a host of teammates, including Peter Hontas (15) and offensive lineman Fletcher Lavie (68).
The Jays make their entrance.
The Blue Jays during the playing of the National Anthem.
Jesuit's MCJROTC color guard faces the Jesuit side for the National Anthem. From left are sophomore Mel Allen, seniors William Waguespack and Austin Blanchard, junior Travis Kieff, and senior Rodney Schaubhut.
On the second play from scrimmage, quarterback Peter Hontas misses on a long pass to Kalija Lipscomb, who has a step on his Raider defender.
Mark Beebe (22) and Jakirai Wiley (4) can't stop this Raider from scoring. (Photo courtesy of Parker Waters)
On a bubble screen, Kalija Lipscomb turns the corner and sees daylight...
... Kalija Lipscomb hugs the Jesuit sideline as he races 79 yards to put the Jays on the scoreboard...
... It's Kalija Lipscomb's fifth touchdown of the season.
The Jayettes are joined by the Junior Jayettes, all of whom are in position to welcome the Blue Jays and Coach Mark Songy, who notes that it's time to take the field.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jandon Briscoe makes a nice shoestring tackle on this Raider.
A Raider pass is broken up by defensive back Mark Beebe (22) and Patrick Spiers (on the ground). Just in case the ref isn't sure, assistant coach Benny Baptiste '81 is rather vocal that it's not a catch.
Jacob Baxter (44) and Zack Robert (92) join forces to stop this Raider.
Peter Hontas throws to Kalija Lipscomb, but the wide receiver can't hold on to the ball. Hontas completed 19 of 36 passes for 324 yards. The Blue Jays dropped six passes against Rummel, as many as were dropped in their previous six games.
Crew Jacobs punted some eight times.
Kai Rozas had two carries for two yards.
Wide receiver Bryce Musso couldn't hold on to this pass from Peter Hontas.
Josh Sauviac (85) and Mark Beebe (22) chase a Raider who makes it into the end zone for a touchdown.