What’s the difference between the scores 35-14 and 34-27? One month, a few days, and a whole lot of effort and heart.

Jesuit football players put forth a valiant effort on November 22 but fell short of John Curtis, 34-27, in the Friday night quarterfinal playoff game at Hoss Memtsas Stadium.

After losing to Curtis by three touchdowns on October 18, the Blue Jays once again found themselves in a three-possession ball game with less than 20 minutes remaining in the game. Specifically, with 7:46 left in the third quarter, the Jays of course chose the option of fighting back over giving up. Trailing 34-17, the defense came back onto the field knowing that it had yet to stop the Curtis offense. Rallying around defensive captains Jimbo Hotard and Sonny Hazard, they stopped Curtis twice in a row and gave the offense a chance to trim the deficit. The offense was not able to produce scoring drives on either of the two chances, forcing punter John Gunaldo and the special teams unit to give Curtis the ball with a 17-point fourth quarter lead. On a high, hard-kicked punt by Gunaldo, the Patriots return man touched the bouncing punt and coughed it up to linebacker/special teams player Dennis Dougherty.

A play later, quarterback Grant Jordan threw a deep fly route to receiver and fellow senior Grant Moreau, who caught the ball and ran nine yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening and Jordan’s third. The 46-yard touchdown catch was the biggest play in the best game of Moreau’s high school career. Moreau and Luke LaForge each caught 7-yard touchdowns in the first half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Jesuit’s defense stopped the Patriots again. The Jays then traveled quickly into the red zone but settled with a 31-yard Aidan Corbello field goal. The offense had one last chance at Curtis’ 39-yard line with 14 seconds remaining when Curtis guaranteed the victory by intercepting a Hail Mary pass toward the corner of the end zone.

Through the Lens…

View the Photo Gallery from the Jesuit vs. John Curtis Quarterfinal

By the Numbers…

Jesuit                 7       10     0       10     —       27

John Curtis      14     13     7       0       —       34

Scoring Summary:

JES: Luke LaForge 7 pass from Grant Jordan (Aiden Corbello kick).
JC: Corey Wren 33 run (Austin McCready kick).
JC: Javon Stoudmire-Davis 56 pass from Collin Guggenheim (Austin McCready kick).
JC: Corey Wren 5 run (Austin McCready kick).
JES: Grant Moreau 7 pass from Grant Jordan (Aiden Corbello kick).
JC: Collin Guggenheim 5 run (Kick blocked).
JES: Aiden Corbello 23 field goal.
JC: Corey Wren 4 run (Austin McCready kick).
JES: Grant Moreau 46 pass from Grant Jordan (Aiden Corbello kick).
JES: Aiden Corbello 31 field goal.

In His Words…

“I wouldn’t trade you guys for anyone. We fell a little short tonight, but we did not fall short this season,” head coach Mark Songy said to his players after the game.

Jesuit ends the 2019 football season at 7-5.

View the 2019 LHSAA Football Playoff Bracket – DIVISION I

Read More…

NOLA.com | Curtis’ reigning champions start strong, then fends off Jesuit in Division I quarterfinals