Jays Race Past Wolves in Playoff Thriller, 21-17

Posted November 12, 2018 / Last updated November 15, 2018

After he broke three tackles along the sideline, there was nothing but stadium seats in front of Jesuit receiver Noah Varnado as he raced to the end zone for a 66-yard game-winner. In the 8-versus-9 playoff thriller, the higher-seeded Blue Jays finished the job Saturday night at Tad Gormley Stadium with a 21-17 victory over St. Paul’s.

Channeling Sean Payton, head football coach Mark Songy was clearly ready to kick off postseason play as he called on Max Scheurich to open the game with an onside kick. The Jays would recover the kick and eventually score on their first two offensive possessions, comfortably leading 14-0 in the first nine minutes.

The next 30 minutes favored the Wolves. They scored touchdowns late in the first and third quarters and a field goal late in the fourth quarter to take a a three-point lead. It was the defense’s goal-line stand in the fourth, however, that became the deciding factor. Varnado’s score would not have been a game-winner if Jesuit’s defense had backed down when the team needed it most.

(WATCH) FOX8Live.com | Jesuit scores late to beat St. Paul’s, 21-17

Through the Lens…

Senior wide receiver Noah Varnado catches a pass along the sideline, breaks three tackles, and sprints to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown!

View the Photo Gallery of the Jesuit-St. Paul’s Football Playoff Game

By the Numbers…

Jesuit: 305 yards of total offense (195 rushing, 110 passing)
St. Paul’s: 258 yards of total offense (86 rushing, 172 passing)

Passing: Robert McMahon, 6-11, 110 YDS, 2 TD
Rushing:Robert McMahon, 19 CAR, 103 YDS, 1 TD; Brayton Whittington, 14-61; Willie Robinson, 12-31.
Receiving: Noah Varnado, 3 REC, 84 YDS, 1 TD; Luke Besh, 2-21; Zack Charneco, 1-5, 1 TD.

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER		JHS	SPS
	TD 9:14 Robert McMahon 17-yard run Max Scheurich kick	7	0
	TD 4:46 Zack Charneco 5-yd pass from McMahon Max Scheurich kick	14	0
	TD 1:18 Carter Elie 2-yd run William Grand kick	14	7
SECOND QUARTER – NO SCORING		14	7
THIRD QUARTER
	TD 1:08 Jack Mashburn 5-yd run Grand kick	14	14
FOURTH QUARTER
	FG 4:12 Grand 19-yd field goal	14	17
	TD 3:37 Noah Varnado 66 pass from McMahon Max Scheurich kick	21	17

In His Words…

“I think (the onside kick to start the game) helped us quite a bit,” said Coach Songy. “We stole a possession from them, and we had talked about it all week. Our guys just did a great job executing it.”

“We know what kind of football program they have (at St. Paul’s) and what kind of team they are—they’re very, very explosive. All of our games the last two years have been like that. We love playing them, and I think they love playing us.”

On the Horizon…

View the 2018 LHSAA Football Playoff Bracket for Div. I

Jesuit (6-5, 3-3) will travel to Yulman Stadium to face top-seeded John Curtis in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

Galleries

Playoffs Round 1, Jesuit (21) vs. St. Paul's (17), Tad Gormley Stadium, Nov. 10, 2018

Before the clock ticks a full second, Jesuit special teams players react after recovering a surprise onside kick that started the game.
With good field position following the onside kick recovery, quarterback Robert McMahon rushes for a touchdown on the opening drive.
Running back Brayton Whittington and Noah Varnado celebrate with McMahon.
On the next offensive possession, tight end Zack Charneco scores a touchdown.
Charneco flashes a smile after his score.
The student section reacts after a big hit by...
...safety Cameron Helm.
Linebacker Marc Dougherty watches as the Wolves receiver runs in motion.
Safety Michael Schmidt makes an open-field tackle.
Running back Willie Robinson breaks to the outside.
McMahon leaps through a hole on the designed quarterback run.
Whittington stiff-arms the defender and picks up positive yards.
McMahon rolls to the right and finds receiver Luke Laforge for a first down.
Jesuit's Jayettes and Blue Jay Band performs at halftime.
Senior Matthew Nata plays the trombone.
The student section claps simultaneously during the drumline's performance.
Receiver Luke Besh catches a pass and...
...turns up field for a first down.
Defensive linemen Owen Melville (#91) and Perry Ganci (#98) tackle the St. Paul's running back for a loss.
Facing a 1st-and-goal situation on the 2-yard line, Jesuit's defense stuffs the Wolves running back.
The defense prevents a touchdown on 2nd down. Then on 3rd down, ...
...Ganci breaks through the scrum of players to make another huge stop that forces St. Paul's to kick a field goal.
With the game on the line and less than 4:00 to play, Noah Varnado catches a pass along the sideline and jukes the first defender.
Varnado then breaks three more tackles and...
...sprints to the end zone...
...for the game-winning touchdown!
Jesuit and St. Paul's players race behind Varnado.
The team kneels for the post-game prayer.

Jesuit High School of New Orleans