Jays Slam the Door, Gently, on Eagles, 35-21

Posted November 15, 2015 / Last updated November 17, 2015

Jesuit Advances in Division 1 Playoffs and Faces Rummel on Friday, Nov. 20, at Joe Yenni Stadium

Defensive back Mark Beebe intercepted a pass and almost ran it back for a touchdown. He got caught just a few yards shy of the goal.

View the Photo Gallery of the Jesuit – Shaw Playoff Game

In the opening round of the Division 1 playoffs, the Blue Jays’ game plan was to keep Archbishop Shaw’s offense off the field Saturday night at Tad Gormley Stadium. That, of course, meant Jesuit’s offense would have to put points on the scoreboard, lots of points.

Connor Prouet picks up some yardage on the opening drive. He scored one touchdown.

The Jays did just that against the Eagles in the first half, monopolizing the clock and stringing together long drives, three of which resulted in touchdowns. Jesuit had a 28-0 shutout going against the Eagles. But with three minutes remaining in the second quarter, Shaw lit up its side of the scoreboard at Tad Gormley Stadium. Still, the Jays took a comfortable 28-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

According to a veteran observer on the Blue Jays’ sideline, one of Shaw’s strengths is the ability to make effective adjustments in the locker room at halftime and play the rest of the game like a completely different team.

The Eagles gave it a run in those final two quarters, closing in on the Jays, 28-21, before Jesuit’s wide receiver, Kalija Lipscomb, hauled in a 57-yard pass from quarterback Peter Hontas and crossed the Shaw goal line for his second touchdown of the game. Hontas to Lipscomb #2 came with about four minutes left in the game and provided just enough cushion for Coach Mark Songy to breathe a bit easier.

Kai Rozas scores Jesuit’s second touchdown from two yards out.

“We jumped on them early, we had our offense clicking, and we kept our defense off the field, which is the name of the game with these guys because you have such an explosive player in (running back) Trey Ragas,” said Coach Mark Songy, adding that Shaw’s quarterback is a really good player. “You keep them out of rhythm and you got a good chance. That’s what we did.”

Jesuit’s 35-21 win eliminates ninth-seeded Shaw from the playoffs and sets up what should be a barn-burner of a game between the Jays and the Raiders of Rummel this Friday, Nov. 20, at Joe Yenni Stadium. Jesuit is seeded eighth among the 10 teams competing for the Division 1 championship. Rummel is seeded first and well-rested. The top six seeded teams enjoyed byes for the opening round. The only other opening round game was Friday night between seventh-seeded Holy Cross and tenth-seeded St. Augustine. The Tigers eliminated the Purple Knights, 13-6.

Kalija Lipscomb takes to the air to avoid being tackled on his way to the end zone. Lipscomb scored on this 20-yard screen play and added a second touchdown in the final quarter when he caught a long pass from quarterback Peter Hontas.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Coach Mark Songy about next week’s game against Rummel. The Raiders beat the Jays, 28-14, in Week 7 of the regular season. “We left a lot of points on the field the last time we played them. Rummel’s certainly a fine football team. They’ve had a rest. We’ve got to come back from a Saturday to a Friday. So we’re going to have to play our best football game and prepare for it real, real well. And have a couple of things go our way next week. But we’re excited about the opportunity to advance.”

Against Shaw, Jesuit looked fantastic in the first half, ready for it to be over in the second. Scoring for the Jays were Connor Prouet on a five-yard run, Kai Rozas from two-yards out, Lipscomb on a 20-yard screen and the long TD pass that was Jesuit’s only score in the second half, and Evan Slattery on a throwback screen from three yards out. Slattery’s touchdown was set up when defensive back Mark Beebe intercepted a pass at mid-field ands almost ran it back for a touchdown. Beebe was caught and dragged down at the three-yard line.

Coach Songy admits he was nervous, “very much so,” in the second half when Jesuit left the door open for Shaw to sneak back in.

“When you play a team like that… Everybody in the Catholic League is good,” he said. “They can beat you on any given day. We almost dropped one tonight but we live to see another day.”

Jesuit vs. Rummel

Jesuit advances in Division 1 playoffs and faces Rummel on Friday, Nov. 20, at Joe Yenni Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $8 each for adults, students, and children (ages 6-11). Pre-sale tickets will be on sale at the switchboard Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and on Friday in the Student Commons during lunch. All tickets purchased at the gate are $10 each. Please note that student IDs and season passes will not be accepted at the gate.

Read More…

The New Orleans Advocate: Jesuit builds big lead and holds off Shaw in Division I playoff game

Nola.com: Jesuit marches on, ends prep careers of Shaw’s Matt Keller and Trey Ragas

Galleries

Football 2015 (Week 11): Division 1 Playoffs, Opening Round; Jesuit (35) vs. Shaw (21); Tad Gormley Stadium; Saturday, Nov. 14

Kalija Lipscomb takes to the air to avoid being tackled on his way to the end zone. Lipscomb scored on this 20-yard screen play and added a second touchdown in the final quarter when he caught a 57-yard pass from quarterback Peter Hontas. It was the Jays' only score in the second half but it helped seal the victory for Jesuit, 35-21.
Coach Mark Songy tells the players that he believes the team has an excellent chance of successfully defending last year's state championship. Ya gotta believe!
The players have something to smile about as they sing the Alma Mater.
The Jays and their fans sing the Alma Mater.
Jandon Briscoe (3) and Jacob Baxter (44) team up to stop this Eagle runner. Shaw scored three TDs in the second half to cut Jesuit's lead to a touchdown, 28-21. But then the Jays sealed their victory when Kalija Lipscomb scored on the 57-yard pass from Peter Hontas.
... Malachi Hull can't hold on to the football especially when the Eagles' defender gets involved in the play.
... Hull is juggling the ball while still not slowing down...
Quarterback Peter Hontas throws the bomb to Malachi Hull who is running full-tilt. His outstretched hands reach for the ball and it appears he will haul it in....
Wide receiver Bryce Musso takes in a screen pass and gets a first down out of it.
Defensive back Mark Beebe intercepts a pass at midfield and takes off for the Shaw end zone. Beebe almost made it but got caught just a few yards shy of the goal line.
Jakirai Wiley (4), a senior defensive back who also fields punts and kickoffs, sustained a knee injury in the game against Brother Martin on Nov. 6. An exciting runner to watch break tackles and somehow find a way to pick up 40 yards when you didn't think he'd net four yards, Wiley will be sorely missed for the rest of the season.
On the kickoff to the Eagles, Guy Patron gets a hand on the runner to slow him down as Jandon Briscoe and others swiftly move in to assist.
Denny McGinnis holds for Crew Jacobs, who was perfect on all five PATs.
Kalija Lipscomb's touchdown catch and run puts a nice smile behind that helmet.
The seniors on the team lead the Blue Jays onto Tad Gormley Stadium's field for Saturday night's game against Archbishop Shaw. This was the second of two games in the opening round of playoffs for the Division 1 championship. Six of the 10 teams comprising Division 1 enjoyed byes the first weekend. In Friday's game, Holy Cross eliminated St. Augustine, 13-6.
Guy Patron goes perpendicular in an effort to bring down Shaw's quarterback.
Jake Chanove handled the kickoffs while Crew Jacobs continued booting extra points.
Stopped initially behind the line of scrimmage, Kai Rozas keeps churning those legs forward. His efforts are rewarded as he falls across the goal line from two yards out to put the Jays ahead, 14-0.
Peter Hontas gets ready to uncork a pass to Malachi Hull (6) who is running a route that takes him into the end zone. The pass was incomplete.
Kalija Lipscomb had another eye-catching performance. On this play, quarterback Peter Hontas completes a screen pass to Lipscomb who muscles his way some 25 yards for a first down in the Eagles' red zone.
Running back Kai Rozas sweeps the left side and breaks a couple of tackles to pick up a first down.
Shaw's Trey Ragas is swarmed over by a quartet of Blue Jays, including defensive backs Patrick Spiers (19) and Mark Beebe (22), linebacker Jacob Baxter (44), and Henry Moreau (83), a defensive end who reaches the runner first.
This is no meet and greet but this Eagle defender won't let go of Connor Prouet, who eventually pulls away, arm and hand intact. Prouet puts the Jays on the scoreboard with this two-yard run.
Connor Prouet was stopped cold on his first two carries, but on his third, shown here, he finds daylight and picks up a first down and extra yardage as the Jays cobble together an opening drive.
The Blue Jay Band occupies space on the track between Jesuit fans and the team where they play the National Anthem.
When the Blue Jays line up along their sideline for the Invocation and National Anthem, they take up almost the entire length of the field, minus 10-15 yards. Assistant offensive coaches Tim Falter '02 (left) and Gino Giambelluca are a step in front of their players. Adjacent to them is Coach Mark Songy.
Jesuit's MCJROTC Honor Guard moves into position for the Invocation and National Anthem. From left: sophomores Mel Allen and Staff Sgt. Giovanni Lorusso, senior Lt. Col. Austin Blanchard, junior Staff Sgt. Noah Griffin, and sophomore Matthew Richards. (With apologies to Lorusso and Blanchard.)