Mistakes Add Up as Jays Are Clipped by Eagles

Posted September 4, 2015 / Last updated September 10, 2015

In a Rivalry Renewed, Jesuit Falls to Warren Easton, 26-21

Jakirai Wiley almost breaks free, but is tripped up by one of the last Eagle defender within reach.

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In the regular season opener for both teams, Jesuit spotted Warren Easton two touchdowns. But the Jays hung in and rallied to briefly take the lead, only to lose it again, this time for good.

The Jays kicked off to the Eagles at Tad Gormley Stadium Thursday evening, and Easton ran the ball back for a touchdown. Talk about striking quickly.

Zack Robert slows this Eagle runner so that reinforcements Patrick Spiers (19) and Mark Beene (22) can assist.

Zack Robert slows this Eagle runner so that reinforcements Patrick Spiers (19) and Mark Beebe (22) can assist.

Jesuit didn’t throw in the towel and scored two TDs of their own, plus the extra points. The Jays had a 14-13 lead with less than a minute remaining in the first half. But the Eagles used the back door to score their third touchdown, throwing a bomb deep in Jesuit’s territory, and carting a 20-14 lead into the locker room.

“We give up a deep ball right before the half, give up a kickoff return on the opening play of the game. You can’t do that,” said Coach Mark Songy. “We dig ourselves a hole that we got to get out of that’s almost impossible to get out of against this kind of talent. The level of stupidity was certainly equal to the intensity of our efforts. We need to fix that.”

Coach Songy was furious over the Jays’ use of time outs as well as a plethora of mistakes.

Connor Proute finds a hole to run through for a first down.

Connor Prouet finds a hole to run through for a first down.

“We had to burn three timeouts because we’re not getting the plays in fast enough, so that cost us,” he said. “Just a lot of little dumb stupid mistakes all night against a really, really good talented football team. I was proud of the fact that we fought for 48 minutes, but we’ve made enough mistakes for a season. And that kind of disgusts me right now. We’re growing up. We’re a young football team. We need to re-organize, regroup, and just get better at doing what we know how to do.”

Coach Songy said the team will go back to the drawing board. “I’ll tell you this: we’re gonna fight every week, guaranteed it’s going to happen. We’ll be back and we’ll fight next week against St. Paul’s.”

Rivalries are made by great football teams and the 2014 state champion Blue Jays were a great football team. “I hope we’ll get to be that good again,” said Coach Songy, adding, “Warren Easton was a great football team a year ago, and it looks like they’re on pace to do that again.”

The Jays hold a three-game edge over the Eagles, 23-20-4.

The Jesuit-Warren Easton game will be shown on WHNO-TV, Channel 20, Saturday, Sept. 5 at noon.

New Orleans Advocate: Warren Easton defense leads the way as the Eagles top Jesuit 26-21

Galleries

Football 2015 (Week 1): Jesuit (21) vs. Warren Easton (26); Thursday, September 3

Senior wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb pulled down seven catches for 91 yards and one touchdown.
... Miraculously, the ball hits the turf and takes a Jesuit bounce... right back into Jakirai Wiley's hands...
... Jakirai Wiley doesn't miss a step and is finally brought down on the Eagles' 45-yard line.
With 14 seconds left in the first half, Peter Hontas drops back to throw but loses the football. The Eagles pounce on it and so goes the first half with Warren Easton in the lead, 20-14.
Two senior drum majors lead the Blue Jay Marching Band: Dane Castillo (foreground) and Tristan Killgore. The band and the Jayettes always give their fans a quality performance... and they have fun doing so!
The Jesuit cheerleaders enjoy a sideshow.
After the halftime performance by the Blue Jay Marching Band and the Jayettes, the drum corps sets up in front of the student section, aka: The Boosters, Stewards of the Gizzard.
Peter Hontas picks up a couple of yards on a broken play.
Crew Jacobs also handles the punt duties.
This Eagle makes the catch and Jandon Briscoe makes the tackle.
Jacob Baxter (44) has a firm grip on this Eagle's jersey.
... Wiley keeps his eyes glued to the ball as it falls...
Linebacker Nathan Farley (33) tackles this runner.
Mark Beebe (22) and Ro Harper (36) team up to take down this Eagle.
Connor Prouet stiff arms a defender to pick up some extra yardage. Prouet chalked up 61 yards on 18 carries.
Kalija Lipscomb leaps high to make a terrific catch of a Peter Hontas throw. The catch covered 32 yards and gave the Jays a first down on the Eagles' 20-yard line with just under two minutes left in the game.
Excitement ripples through the Jesuit side of the stadium after Kalija Lipscomb's catch keeps the Jays alive with about two minutes left on the clock.
Mark Beebe was one of several players who cramped up. Assistant athletic trainer Mike Guillory provides some relief.
The Blue Jays have a chance but need a first down. On fourth and one, Peter Hontas tries to bang through the left side of his offensive line, but the Eagles' defense stops him short and takes over with one minute left in the game.
The two teams meet on the field after the game, which was the first time they've played since 2004. In the series between the teams, the Jays hold a three-game edge, 23-20-4.
The players and the fans sing the Alma Mater.
The Blue Jays listen as Coach Mark Songy discusses the errors of their ways: "Just a lot of little dumb stupid mistakes all night against a really, really good talented football team. I was proud of the fact that we fought for 48 minutes, but we’ve made enough mistakes for a season."
Connor Prouet bursts through the Eagles' defense to score the Jays' first touchdown from one yard out.
The Blue Jays and the Warren Easton Eagles have not played each other since 2004. Jesuit won that year, 23-0.
Senior captains for the game are safety Mark Beebe (22), defensive end Zack Robert (92), wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (17), and quarterback Peter Hontas (15).
The Blue Jays number 114 players. One result is that some players are wearing the same numbered jerseys.
The Eagles take the opening kickoff and soar, running it back 80 yards for a touchdown that throws the Jays into a hole 14 seconds into the game.
Center John Sewell (60) and running back Zach Young (7) open a hole for Connor Prouet to drive a truck through.
Warren Easton jumps out to a quick two-touchdown lead, but Mark Beebe (22) gets a glove on the ball as the Eagles attempt the PAT after their second TD. Beebe just missed blocking the first PAT. The Jays have some work to do to climb out of a 13-0 hole.
Jakirai Wiley breaks free on the ensuing kickoff...
... Just when you thought Jakirai Wiley was headed for the end zone, he's tripped up by the last Eagle defender in his way.
Zack Robert slows this Eagle runner so that reinforcements, Patrick Spiers (19) and Mark Beebe (22), can assist.
Peter Hontas is at the helm of the Blue Jays' offense. In his first start at quarterback, the senior completed 13 of 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
As Coach Mark Songy heads for the sideline, the Blue Jays prepare to make their entrance.
They call themselves "The Boosters" and these Blue Jay fans are "Stewards of The Gizzard."
On the ensuing kickoff, Leland Jackson (26) trips up this Eagle.
Ro Harper (36), Edward Rice (39), and Henry Moreau (83) chase down this Eagle.
Connor Prouet picks up a first down.
Malachi Hull catches a 15-yard touchdown pass thrown by Peter Hontas for Jesuit's second TD.
Denny McGinnis holds while Crew Jacobs kicks the extra point. Jacobs was three-for-three against the Eagles. The Jays are suddenly in the lead, 14-13, but the Eagles still have one minute remaining in the first half.
On the front row of The Boosters section are, from left, seniors Brandon Wolff, Will Hurley, and David Keller.
The Eagles march right back down the field and score their third TD right before the first half ends.
The Eagles kick off after their third touchdown and Jakirai Wiley, with Chase Adamcewicz (49) running interference, breaks free. But Wiley fumbles...