In today’s LHSAA Division I semifinal at John Ryan Stadium, the Blue Jays fell 1–3 to Covington’s St. Paul’s. Junior Hayes Laibe assisted fellow junior Eli Liantonio to draw first blood early, and the Blue Jays held a 1–1 tie at halftime before the Wolves scored two in the second half to secure the victory.

Jesuit entered the match riding an impressive season. The defending state champions had compiled a 19–1–1 record, highlighted by key wins throughout the campaign. Earlier in the season, the Jays secured a 1–0 win away at St. Paul’s, ended Willow’s 44‐game unbeaten streak with a 2–0 victory at home, and triumphed 2–0 over Ben Franklin on their own turf. District contests also saw commanding wins, including a 3–1 success against Holy Cross and a hard-fought 2–0 win at Catholic High of Baton Rouge.

In the state quarterfinals, Jesuit delivered a 6–0 shutout over Brother Martin at John Ryan. In that contest, Graham Hemel led the attack with two goals while contributions from seniors Cameron Grandbouche and Grayson Savoie and juniors Hayes Laibe and Gavin Liantonio rounded out the scoring, showcasing the team’s depth and offensive prowess.

A season marked by disciplined defense—anchored by senior goalkeeper Andrew Duncan along with center backs Donnie Dovie and Walker Schott and fullbacks Sean Gardner and Bryce Barrere—enabled the Blue Jays to challenge some of Louisiana’s top programs. The squad’s only setback before the semifinal came in an out-of-state match against Ocean Springs, MS.

Despite the strong season and earlier success against St. Paul’s, the Blue Jays were unable to counter the Wolves’ second-half surge in the penultimate Division I match.

The season comes to an end, leaving behind a campaign defined by high-caliber performances against elite competition. The legacy of leadership and commitment that the team’s seniors leaves behind will now become the fuel for a promising roster of underclassmen. Congratulations to the team on its 2024-25 year.