The football team extended its winning streak to three games with a commanding 17-5 victory over the Brother Martin Crusaders on Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium. The team’s defense, bolstered by standout performances from key players, stifled Brother Martin’s offense and set the tone for a hard-fought win in the District 9-5A opener.

From the opening whistle, the defense imposed its will. Led by sophomore Zyron Forstall and seniors Griffin Ellis, James Roniger, and Wyatt Mire, the Blue Jays applied relentless pressure on Brother Martin’s quarterback, forcing nine sacks and two turnovers while holding the Crusaders to just 132 yards of total offense. The Blue Jays often employed blitz packages, sending Forstall and Griffin off the edges, while the secondary played tight man coverage. This approach forced five fumbles and allowed only three points on the night, with the only other points for Brother Martin coming from a safety late in the fourth quarter.

“This is the Catholic League, and we knew it was going to be a physical, defensive battle,” said coach Ryan Manale after the game. “Our defense played lights out tonight, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way they responded to every challenge. This is the kind of effort we needed to start district play.”

The Blue Jays’ offense also found moments to shine, particularly through the air. Junior Taylor Norton completed a 97-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Calvin Magee early in the third quarter, the longest touchdown pass in Jesuit history. The offensive line, led by senior Ethan Shankle and junior Oliver Cook, helped facilitate this and other critical moments.

“We’re in the record books with that 97-yard play,” said Manale. “Our receivers have been working hard, and Norton stepped up in a big way tonight. He showed resilience and toughness in the face of pressure.”

The game opened with both teams trading defensive stops. Norton connected with junior Roman Larré for a 66-yard completion in the first quarter, but the Jays were unable to capitalize on that drive due to a missed field goal.

Jesuit struck hard in the second quarter. After a Brother Martin fumble, the Blue Jays capitalized on excellent field position, with Roniger powering into the end zone from four yards out to give Jesuit a 7-0 lead. Brother Martin responded with a field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3, but Jesuit answered with a 26-yard field goal by junior Ethan Cabos just before halftime to take a 10-3 lead into the break.

Jesuit’s defense continued to dominate in the second half, with Forstall and Ellis wreaking havoc on the Crusaders’ offensive line. Brother Martin’s quarterback was under constant duress, and the Crusaders struggled to string together meaningful drives. Despite multiple trips into Jesuit territory, Brother Martin’s offense was repeatedly turned away by the Blue Jay defense.

With the second half kickoff putting the Jays on their own 6-yard line, a few quick penalties and losses pushed them back to the 2-yard line for third down. Norton faked a handoff and let sail his 97-yard record-breaking pass to Magee to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 17-3, giving them the cushion they needed for the rest of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Jays had a chance to put the game away after a 13-yard run by sophomore Ja’ir Burks brought them deep into Brother Martin territory. However, a fumble gave the Crusaders a glimmer of hope. Jesuit’s defense, as it had all night, stood tall. With the Crusaders threatening near the goal line, Roniger stopped Brother Martin short on a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line, preserving the lead.

Roniger’s late-game heroics didn’t stop there. With just over a minute to play, he intercepted a pass from Brother Martin’s backup quarterback, sealing the game and allowing the offense to kneel in victory formation to run out the clock.

The win improves the football team’s record to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in District 9-5A. It also marks the team’s first regular-season victory over Brother Martin since 2013, breaking a nine-game losing streak in regular-season matchups against the Crusaders.

The Jays will look to carry this momentum into their next game, where they face off against long-time rival Holy Cross for the 105th time.

“Tonight was a huge step for us, but we’ve got to keep moving forward,” said Manale. “Next week is another tough test, and we’ve got to be ready.”

With a stout defense and an improving passing game, the team heads into the rivalry matchup with confidence, hoping to extend their winning streak to four games and to bring the Golden Football back to Banks Street.