Jays Take Care of Business, Fly Past Eagles, 49-14

Posted October 19, 2014 / Last updated October 22, 2014

Jesuit Focuses This Week at Practice on Playing Rummel Saturday, October 25; Kickoff Is 7 PM at Joe Yenni Stadium

Linebacker Jonathan Giardina (43) makes a diving tackle on the Eagles’ quarterback as cornerback Justin Helm (14) gets ready to help.

View 57 Photos in the Jesuit – Shaw Game Gallery

The Blue Jays took a little longer than usual to put their heads in Saturday’s game against Archbishop Shaw. That’s probably because they were already thinking past the Eagles to next weekend’s District 9-5A showdown against Rummel.

Once the Jays decided to focus and take care of the more immediate business on the West Bank, they ran, no flew, past the Eagles. Jesuit took a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime, a score that would make most teams happy. Not the Jays, who were kicking themselves for blowing a chance from Shaw’s 10-yard line with 45 seconds on the clock to make it 28-14.

Trey LaForge is among the first to congratulate Kalija Lipscomb after he caught a short pass and galloped 47 yards for a touchdown to give Jesuit a 14-7 lead.

The second half belonged to Jesuit, even though it began with holding penalties on three successive plays, negating a 70-yard kickoff return by Jakirai Wiley, a 50-yard run by Charles Jackson, and a 25-yard run by Chris Mills. Once they let go of green jerseys, the Jays’ offense kicked into overdrive and scored four touchdowns to go with the three from the first half. The Jays’ defense rose to the occasion, twice denying first downs when Shaw decided to go for it on fourth and one. Jesuit’s defense stymied the Eagles, who were, indeed, held — scoreless, that is, in the second half.

Jackson and Mills each scored twice. Jackson scored first to give the Jays a 7-0 lead, standing up in the end zone after a short run that was set up by two key plays: a 25-yard run by Mills and a 15-yard pass from quarterback Trey LaForge to tight end Foster Moreau. After Shaw tied the score in the first quarter, wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb caught a LaForge pass in the flat and twisted and hurdled 47 yards for Jesuit’s second touchdown. Hunt Robert went off-tackle up the middle for a two-yard touchdown, emerging once again in the end zone unscathed for Jesuit’s third touchdown.

In the second half, Mills scored TDs four and five, the first an eight-yard run in which he started left then reversed course and dove into the end zone. The TD was set up by a nice pass-and-catch from LaForge to wide receiver Malachi Hull. Mills scored a few minutes later on a two-yard run that was preceded by a 50-yard Jackson jaunt. Jesuit’s sixth score was Jackson’s second TD, a two-yard run. The Jays scored TD #7 on a short carry by sophomore reserve running back Connor Prouet, taking the handoff from junior back-up quarterback Peter Hontas.

Junior kicker Crew Jacobs kicked six of six PATs while freshman Chris Freibert kicked the last PAT.

“We prepared for Shaw just like we did against Holy Cross and the teams before that,” said head coach Mark Songy. “We will prepare for Rummel no differently.”

N.O. Advocate: Jesuit pulls away from Shaw in second half

Galleries

Football 2014 (Week 7): Jesuit vs. Archbishop Shaw; Saturday, October 18

... and gets a first down near the 10-yard line. Moreau caught five passes for 74 yards.
... But Jackson's run is wiped out because the Jays were holding, a penalty that elicits this reaction from Coach Mark Songy.
On Shaw's first possession of the second half, Dillon Knight forces the Eagle runner to cut inside...
... where he's gang-tackled by Osman Torres (91), Jakirai Wiley (4), Harrison Daste, and Mitchell Melito (38),
This Eagle receiver can't handle a pass, no doubt due to the pressure applied by safety Justin Helm.
Linebacker Jonathan Giardina (43) makes a diving tackle on the Eagles' quarterback as cornerback Justin Helm (14) gets ready to help.
The Eagles punt and Jakirai Wiley looks like he's heading south, much to the delight of the Jays on the sideline. A desperate attempt to slow Wiley down just stretches his jersey...
... Wiley looks at his last obstacle as he nears the 20-yard line...
... The Eagle grabs just enough of the #4 jersey to slow down Wiley...
... until helps comes and Jakirai Wiley is dragged down inside the 20-yard line. Unfortunately, the play is negated by another Jesuit holding penalty.
Charles Jackson picks up some yardage as Malcolm Ben goes airborne.
Chris Mills caps an 8-yard run by diving into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
Trey LaForge congratulates Chris Mills on his second successive TD as both make sure there was no penalty that would negate the play. Mills finished with 12 carries for 115 yards. LaForge completed 15 of 20 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown.
Seven touchdowns mean the Blue Jay Marching Band will fill the air with the Jesuit Fight Song.
Foster Moreau reaches for a pass...
Shaw kicks off to Jesuit to start the second half. In the first series of downs, Charles Jackson takes a handoff from Trey LaForge and hits all eight cylinders, running all the way to the Eagles' 15-yard line...
Charles Jackson scores his second touchdown, a 4-yard run up the middle. Jackson had nine carries for 117 yards.
The Jayettes entertain the Blue Jay fans.
The defense came out much stronger in the second half, shutting down the Eagles. and holding them scoreless. On this play, the Eagle quarterback is stuffed by Robert Lobrano (55), Henry Moreau (83), and Jonathan Giardina (43).
Malachi Hull is wide open and Trey LaForge heaves a 35-yard pass, dropping it perfectly into his waiting arms...
... Hull crosses midfield and sets up the Jays for their final TD of the game. Hull led receivers with four catches for 122 yards.
Junior reserve quarterback Peter Hontas scrambles.
Sophomore reserve running back Kai Rozas carries the ball and gets it down to the 6-yard line where Connor Prouet runs it in for the final TD of the game. Final score: Jesuit 49, Shaw 14.
Senior fullback Michael McMahon, Jr. shares the bench (but not his lollipop) with his father, Michael McMahon '85. Michael was injured in the game against Holy Cross the week before and had surgery the day prior to the Jesuit-Shaw game.
The Jesuit Cheerleaders kick it up a notch.
The two teams meet on the field. With the win, the Jays close the won-loss gap in the Jesuit-Shaw series to 19-25.
The team faces the fans and sings the Alma Mater.
The fans show their appreciation for the Jays.
Coach Mark Songy reminds the team that this weekend's game against Rummel essentially will be for the District 9-5A championship. Jesuit and Rummel go toe-to-toe on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Joe Yenni Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the switchboard through Friday afternoon.
The Jesuit side of Hoss Memtsas Stadium applauds Jesuit's first TD of the afternoon.
The Jays line up along the sideline for the National Anthem.
Jesuit's captains are seniors Foster Moreau (82), Hunt Robert (51), Dillon Knight (28), and Trey LaForge (11). The Jays lose the coin toss, but that means nothing.
On the opening kickoff, a trio of Jays (from left) - Dillon Knight, Cameron Crozier, and Jandon Briscoe - gang up on the Eagle ball carrier.
Principal Peter Kernion '90 pays his respects to Jayson.
Zack Robert (92) reaches Shaw's quarterback before help arrives from Mitchell Melito (38), Harrison Daste (39), Stephen Brown (88), and Hunt Robert (51).
The Eagles decide to go for it on fourth and one. At the bottom of the pile, Hunt Robert emerges to grab hold of the Eagle runner's foot. It allowed other Blue Jays to snuff the Eagles' gamble.
Tight end Foster Moreau catches a Trey Laforge pass before turning and heading north for a first down.
A screen play has Malcolm Ben picking up some 40 yards, but a penalty negates his great run. It won't be the first penalty that wipes out a long Jesuit run.
Charles Jackson darts through a hole excavated by tackle Brad Gaudet and moves the chains across midfield for a first down.
Chris Mills brushes past an Eagle defender...
... and finds his stride...
... Chris Mills caps his 30-yard sprint with a hello; the senior running back is finally dragged down 2 yards shy of the goal line.
Once again, right tackle Brad Gaudet (65) escorts Charles Jackson, who scores Jesuit's first touchdown from 2 yards out.
Harrison Daste holds for Crew Jacobs, who kicks 6 of 6 PATs. Freshman Chris Freibert kicked the 7th PAT.
In the second quarter, Shaw evens the score with a 13-yard touchdown pass that knifes its way through a trio of defenders: Dillon Knight (28), Jakirai Wiley (4), and Harrison Daste (on the turf).
The kickoff after Shaw's touchdown is handled by Chris Mills, who churns those legs until he's brought down at midfield.
Wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb takes a short pass from Trey LaForge and heads up the sidelines, accompanied by Emerson Wenzel (79) and Corey Dublin (74)...
... Kalija Lipscomb covers 47 yards really fast, extending the ball as he nears the pylon marking the goal line. With Lipscomb's TD, the Jays take the lead again, 14-7.
Trey LaForge is among the first to congratulate Kalija Lipscomb.
It's a busy afternoon for junior Crew Jacobs, who handles the kickoffs. He would have punted as well, except the Jays did not have to punt a single time in the game.
Linebackers Robert Lobrano (55) and Mitchell Melito (38), along with defensive end Zack Robert (92), have this Eagle cornered, but incredibly, he slips the noose and advances the ball into Jesuit's red zone. Several plays later, Shaw scores its second TD to pull abreast of the Jays, 14-14.
A long pass from Trey LaForge is caught by wide receiver Malachi Hull...
... and the Jays are back in Shaw's red zone as Malachi Hull shows everyone he's still got possession.
A few plays later, Hunt Robert scores Jesuit's third TD from 4 yards out.
With 45 seconds left in the first half, the Eagles have to punt on fourth and long. But the snap is muffed and even though the Eagles recover, it's Jesuit's ball on the Eagle 20-yard line.
An opportunity for the Jays to add to the 21-14 score before the half expires goes up in smoke. This pass to Kalija Lipscomb is blocked by the Eagle defender. On the next play, another attempted pass to Lipscomb is intercepted in the end zone as the clock expires. Lipscomb finished with three passes for 71 yards.