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Tigers Edge Past Jays

By JOHN JOLY

Holy Cross and Jesuit played trick or treat a night late Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium but the Tigers proved the better team by taking a close 17-14 decision over the Blue Jays in the 53rd meeting.  The series, however, still shows Jesuit in front, 30-22-1.*

It was almost two different games.  Holy Cross scored its first half points on two Jesuit fumbles, but it was a turnaround as the Jays tallied twice in the third period on a pair of Holy Cross fumbles.

But Holy Cross prevailed when quarterback Danny Hrapmann sliced over from three yards out at the 9:45 mark of the fourth quarter to give the Tigers the decision and end a four-game losing streak at the hands of the Blue Jays.

The victory helped keep Holy Cross in the running for the District 11-AAAA title or runner up spot, as they are now 4-1-1 in league play.  It turned out to be a dismal night for the Jesuit homecoming.

Holy Cross scored in each of the first two periods to take a 10-0 lead over the Jays.  both of the Tiger scores came as the result of Jesuit fumbles.

On the Tigers' first series, they were held at their own 28 and forced to punt, but Jesuit's Bradley Billon handled Heap's punt badly and Simon Spencer recovered for the Bengals at the Jesuit 31.  

The Tigers had to settle for a 38-yard field goal by Heap when the Tigers could get only six yards in three carries to the Jays' 21.

Late in the second quarter, Holy Cross capitalized on a second Jesuit error.  Playing a first and 10 on the Jesuit 46, Keenan carried for the Jays.  But he lost the handle and Tigers' Mark Delesdernier recovered in midair and ran 51 yards into the Jesuit end zone.  Heap kicked the score to 10-0.

But Jesuit turned the game around in the third quarter when it took advantage of two Holy Cross fumbles, scoring touchdowns both times and adding points after for a 14-10 lead.

On the first fumble by Hrapmann, Pete Harris recovered for the Jays and they marched 58 yards for the first score, which came with 6:11 left in the quarter.  Tony Abadie's 20-yard pass to Chris Redman in the end zone capped the drive.  Marc Morial kicked the extra point and it pulled the Jays to within three of the Tigers.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff Holy Cross again fumbled.  Again it was Hrapmann who lost his grip, and this time Billy Keller recovered for the Jays in mid-air, returning 27 yards to Holy Cross' 11.

Bob Quitzau cracked for two to the Tiger nine, Abadie kept for eight for a first down at the one, and Abadie called his own number  to go off center for the one yard and the score.  Morial made it 14-10 with his conversion at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter.

A 33-yard return of the kickoff by James Kearney gave Holy Cross fine field position at the Jesuit 47.  The Tigers ground out yardage on a 47-yard TD drive in 12 plays, with Hrapmann going off right tackle from three yards out to regain the lead for the Tigers with 9:45 left to play.  Heap made it 17-14 with his PAT.

A punt exchange gave Jesuit its last chance at 3:30 but three plays later the Tigers took it out of reach with an interception by John Roche at the Jesuit 42.  Holy Cross drove to the Jesuit nine, where it let the clock run out.

* - Editor: We disagree with these totals.  Our count shows 55 meetings, with the record at 32-21-2.

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