In a Catholic school showdown at Harvey Peltier Stadium on E.D. White’s campus in Thibodaux, the football team overcame a halftime deficit to secure a hard-fought 22-15 victory over the Cardinals. After trailing 12-7 at the break, the Blue Jays stormed back with an inspired second-half performance, highlighted by two scoring drives and a dominant defensive effort.

In the first quarter, both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm. Jesuit’s defensive line, with energetic showings from players such as sophomore Zyron Forstall and senior Griffin Ellis, consistently put pressure on E.D. White’s offense, limiting their ability to move the ball. The Blue Jay secondary, featuring commendable play from senior Darrick LeBeouf, was equally sharp, containing E.D. White’s passing game and forcing multiple punts.

After a series of stalled drives, the Jays’ offense, under the leadership of quarterback junior Taylor Norton, began to find its footing. A quick pass from Norton to fellow junior wide receiver Roman Larré brought the Blue Jays their first significant gain of the game, advancing into E.D. White territory. Despite the drive stalling after a third-down sack, Jesuit’s defense continued to hold strong, giving the Blue Jays multiple opportunities to regain control.

A breakthrough came when Norton orchestrated a screen pass to senior tight end Frank Finicle, a play that caught the Cardinals off guard and brought Jesuit into scoring range. A few plays later, Norton handed off to standout freshman running back Reily Roubion, who powered through the defense, setting up a short-yardage situation. Norton himself capped off the drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak, giving the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

In the second quarter, after Jesuit’s early touchdown, E.D. White managed to claw their way back into the game. Following an 80-yard touchdown run by E.D. White, Jesuit faced a field position issue when a high snap sailed over the head of junior punter Andrew Bordelon, who demonstrated quick thinking by kicking the ball out of the back of the end zone for safety that narrowed the score to 7-9. This safety further shifted the momentum in E.D. White’s favor, as they used the short field after the safety to kick a field goal late in the second quarter, bringing the score to 12-7 at halftime.

Jesuit’s defense, which had been a key part of the first-half performance, looked to maintain its intensity as the Blue Jays prepared for a second-half comeback.

The second-half surge by the Blue Jays began with a renewed sense of urgency on both sides of the ball. Norton orchestrated a methodical drive early in the third quarter, mixing quick passes with power runs. The Blue Jays reached the red zone, where Norton connected with Larré on a well-executed screen pass, bringing Jesuit within striking distance. Senior James Roniger capped off the drive with a powerful five-yard touchdown run, giving Jesuit a 15-12 lead after a successful two-point conversion.

On defense, Jesuit’s front line came alive, with linemen Ellis and Forstall relentlessly pressuring E.D. White’s offense. Their effort culminated in several key stops, forcing the Cardinals to punt and giving Jesuit another opportunity to control the game. With around five minutes remaining, Norton found Larré for a crucial 67-yard touchdown pass, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 22-12.

Despite E.D. White’s attempts to mount a comeback, including a late field goal to narrow the margin to 22-15, Jesuit’s defense held firm. With less than two minutes on the clock, E.D. White was forced to attempt an onside kick, which Jesuit successfully recovered, sealing the game.

The Blue Jays’ defense tallied four sacks in the second half, while the secondary kept the Cardinals’ passing game in check. The win moves Jesuit to 1-1 on the season, with momentum building as they head into next week’s matchup.

Coach Ryan Manale praised his team’s resilience after the game, stating, “Our defense stepped up when it mattered most, and our offense found a rhythm in the second half. This was a complete team effort.”

With the win, Jesuit looks to build on this hard-fought victory as they continue their season.