Jays Tally 7 Touchdowns and for the Tigers of Pensacola, Life’s a Beach

Posted September 27, 2014 / Last updated September 30, 2014

Out Front of Tigers in First Half, 21-10, Jays Surge in Second Half to Win Decisively on the Road, 49-17

On the fourth play from scrimmage, senior running back Chris Mills sprints 59 yards to score Jesuit’s first touchdown of the evening in Friday’s game against Pensacola. Blue Jays on the offensive line (from left) – Emerson Wenzel (79), Corey Dublin (74), Austin Reed (72), and John Sewell (60) – opened a gaping hole large enough for a sailboat. They catch up with Mills in the end zone to celebrate the score and hoist him vertically as he stabs the air, looking towards his teammates on the sideline and the crowd of Blue Jay supporters who made the trip to cheer them on to victory.

View the Jesuit – Pensacola Photo Gallery

Once again, the Blue Jays struck early, scoring two touchdowns in the opening minutes of play and leaving their opponent gasping for air, or in Friday night’s encounter with Pensacola, the Tigers found themselves floundering in deep water.

But just when Jesuit’s army of supporters (who made a good showing in Pensacola, almost equalizing the home crowd) think that the Jays have the game locked up with the key buried somewhere in the sand on Santa Rosa Island, the football starts bouncing crazily. Suddenly at halftime, the 21-10 Jesuit lead isn’t much of a cushion. Worse, the Jays were on the field in the second quarter but their minds were elsewhere. They could have been looking for Waldo.

Senior defensive back Justin Helm (14) makes a great play in the end zone, denying the Tigers a touchdown.

When the Jays hit their locker room at halftime, they knew Coach Mark Songy was not a happy camper. The players didn’t know to what extent. Let’s leave it this way: Coach Songy had a good talk with his team.

“I don’t remember what I told them,” he said afterwards with a sheepish grin, adding, “but it must have worked.”

The Jays emerged for the second half fired up (once again), focused, and ready to finish their business.

And finish they did, scoring four touchdowns in the second half on top of the trio of TDs in the first half. Jesuit’s defense tightened up considerably and the Tigers were denied on their own field, up until the closing minutes.

Here is how the Jays scored their 7 touchdowns:

Chris Mills rambled up the middle for 49 yards.

Quarterback Trey LaForge threw 3 touchdown passes, the first a 10-yard strike to senior tight end Foster Moreau. In the second half, LaForge hit Moreau over the middle and the big tight end made a juggling reception with one hand. In a flash, he covered the 50 yards all the way to the end zone.

Defensive tackle Hunter Robert also plays in the backfield on offense. He bulled his way for a 1-yard TD in the first half.

To begin the second half, Crew Jacobs kicked off (again, he was perfect on all 6 of his PATs, while freshman Christopher Freibert kicked the 7th), but the Tigers fumbled and the Jays pounced on it. A couple of plays later, LaForge lofted a 25-yard pass to junior wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb, who out-jumped his opponent in the end zone.

Next came Moreau’s 50-yard TD catch-and-sprint, which was followed by a 30-yard sprint by senior tornado Charles Jackson.

The final TD was a long pass from back-up quarterback Peter Hontas to wide receiver Scott Jenkins.

Jesuit now holds a 14-6 won/loss record playing Pensacola. Both teams had a popular rivalry for several years beginning in the late 1940s and extending to the early 1960s. And then they stopped playing each other. The rivalry was rekindled and the teams agreed to play two games. Last year, Pensacola came to New Orleans with the Jays besting the Tigers, 28-7. This season, it was Jesuit’s turn to visit Pensacola. There are no future games scheduled between the two teams, although it’s possible the rivalry could continue further down the line.

For the Jays, the upcoming week’s practice will focus on their homecoming game to be played against the always-tough East Jefferson Warriors. The game is Friday, October 3 with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Tad Gormley Stadium. Beginning Monday, Sept. 29, tickets are available at the Jesuit switchboard from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Read More…

Pensacola News Journal (PNJ.com): Jesuit takes advantage of PHS mistakes in win

Galleries

Football 2014 (Week 4): Jesuit vs. Pensacola; Friday, September 26

The Jesuit Cheerleaders hold up their "Trample the Tigers" sign for the team to bust through...
... At some point, the sign is dropped - to the amusement of a few of the players.
The Cheerleaders hoist the sign again which the players dutifully "trample" upon.
With the Cheerleaders doing flip-flops and back somersaults, the Blue Jays run onto the Pensacola High field (real grass).
Jesuit captains Foster Moreau (out of picture, far left), Trey LaForge, Robert Lobrano, and Hunter Robert are at mid-field to meet their opponents and the referees. The Jays win the coin toss and elect to receive.
Some of the Blue Jays who made the trip to Pensacola to support the team take up their positions in the stands.
On the fourth play from scrimmage, Trey LaForge turns and flips the ball to senior running back Chris Mills, who is off to the races...
... Mills is untouched for 59 yards and scores the Jays' first touchdown of the night with about 90 seconds having elapsed since the opening kickoff.
Blue Jays on the offensive line (from left) - Emerson Wenzel (79), Corey Dublin (74), Austin Reed (72) and John Sewell (60) - opened a gaping hole large enough for a sailboat. They catch up with Mills in the end zone to celebrate the score and hoist him vertically as he stabs the air, looking towards his teammates on the sideline and the crowd of Blue Jay supporters who made the trip to support the team.
Junior defensive backs Mark Beebe (22) and Jakirai Wiley put a stop this Tiger run.
Senior running back Michael McMahon picks up a first down.
With 20 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Trey LaForge throws a 10-yard touchdown strike to senior tight end Foster Moreau for the Jays to go up, 14-0. Moreau celebrates his first score of the night with Mike McMahon.
Blue Jay cheerleaders were confined to a narrow strip just off the field which limited their gymnastic shows.
Defensive end Osman Torres (91) and linebacker Jonathan Giardina hit the Tigers' quarterback simultaneously from opposite sides, causing him to cough up the ball. But the fumble goes sky-high and falls into the hands of a surprised Tiger.
Surrounded by Blue Jay defenders - linebackers Mitchell Melito (38), Robert Lobrano (55), and Jonathan Giardina (43), and defensive back Justin Helm (14), safety Mark Beebe tries unsuccessfully to grab the ball from the Tigers' quarterback.
Osman Torres sacks the Tigers' quarterback for a loss.
After the Tigers hit a 41-yard field goal, Jakirai Wiley runs the kickoff back to the Blue Jays' 35- yard line, but a holding penalty against the Jays puts the offense back on the 20.
Junior defensive end Henry Moreau (83) and Hunter Robert (51) put the brakes on the Tigers' quarterback.
Charles Jackson follows his blocker, junior center John Sewell, and runs for a first down.
Junior Crew Jacobs punts.
Cornerback Justin Helm tackles this Tiger receiver.
Junior wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb spins past two would-be tacklers...
... and races down the sideline, urged on by his teammates...
... Kalija Lipscomb is finally brought down just short of the goal line.
Chris Mills takes the hand-off from Trey LaForge and grinds out a few yards down to the 2, picking up a first down.
The Jays look to a big piece of furniture to take the ball into the end zone, Hunter Robert is given the ball...
... and scores the Jays' third TD. Robert emerges from the crowd standing up.
Blue Jay fans like how the team is playing.
Senior defensive end Stephen Brown harasses the Tiger quarterback...
... forcing him to fumble. Senior defensive end Osman Torres jumps on the loose ball for the Jays.
Senior offensive lineman Brad Gaudet makes a flying tackle on this Tiger who just intercepted a pass.
Linebacker Jonathan Giardina falls on a Tiger fumble.
Kalija Lipscomb catches a pass in the end zone for Jesuit's fourth TD of the game, and is lifted by Corey Dublin.
Mitchell Melito and defensive end Zack Robert haul this Tiger down to the turf.
Justin Helm (14) makes a great play in the end zone, denying the Tigers a touchdown.
Foster Moreau barely breaks stride as he makes a juggling reception. Moreau scampers 50 yards for the touchdown, his second of the game. The Jays are pulling away, 35-10.
Harrison Daste puts a lick on this receiver and the ball pops out...
... An alert Justin Helm dives for it, and it's first and 10 for the Jays.
Charles Jackson looks for running room and almost breaks free.
Trey LaForge lofts this pass to Charles Jackson who catches it and weaves his way into the end zone to give the Jays a 42-10 lead.
Junior wide receiver Scott Jenkins catches a pass thrown by back-up junior quarterback Peter Hontas and takes it all the way for the Jays' final TD of the game. Jays: 49, Tigers: 17.
With sophomore Denny McGinnis holding, freshman Chris Freibert kicks the final PAT.
The two teams meet on the field before the Jays start their four-hour bus ride back to Mid-City.
Without any music, the players and fans sing the Alma Mater.
The Jesuit cheerleaders wave goodbye to the crowd. Until next time... which is the Homecoming game against East Jefferson. The Jays and Warriors kick off Friday, October 3 at 7 p.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium.