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The Football Tradition for the Prep League in
2002:

2002: HOLY CROSS AND JESUIT COMPETE FOR TITLE

In the 2002 season, both Holy Cross and Jesuit produced winning football teams and contended for the District 9-5A championship.  Their Saturday afternoon game was moved from Tad Gormley Stadium to Joe Yenni Stadium due to weather conditions.  The day and time of the scheduled game was also moved at the last minute, which added to the confusion of many fans.  The Gormley field had been taken over by the Tulane-Navy game, the first time that an NCAA game had been played there since 1938.

Here is the account as it appeared in the Times-Picayune.  The game was played on the afternoon of Saturday, October 26, 2002.
Copyright © 2002 New Orleans Times-Picayune Publishing Co.

Holy Cross now 8-0 with win

HOLY CROSS 24, JESUIT 21

By William Kalec
Staff Writer

Six inches of linked chain decided the city's oldest prep rivalry.
With approximately three minutes remaining - the clock at Joe Yenni Stadium did not work - Jesuit quarterback Conner Morel dived toward the marker with Holy Cross linebacker Jonathan Lanza holding on.  The Jesuit side of the stands erupted, thinking Morel gained the necessary five yards on fourth down.
The Holy Cross side followed, cheering 30 seconds later, when the chains were pulled past the ball and the Tigers took over on the Jesuit 38. A fourth-down pass from Sean Santos to Richard Lyons allowed Holy Cross to run out the clock and secure the 24-21 victory.
Holy Cross (4-0 in the Catholic League) is 8-0 for the first time since 1970, when John Kahlbacher was coach.  Jesuit is 5-3, 3-1.
"Watching that play, my heart dropped about five times," said Holy Cross defensive tackle Nick Frank.  "(Morel) made a great run.  I couldn't hold on, and about three other guys had a shot to get him but couldn't. It was like that the entire day. Most of the field was just mud. There were only a couple spots where your footing was good."
Holy Cross place-kicker Kyle Shuford kicked the game-winning 35-yard field goal from a firm patch of grass after the Tigers drove 63 yards before stalling.  The Tigers' drive was set up by Frank's sack of Morel that pushed Jesuit out of field goal range, forcing a punt.
Holy Cross coach Barry Wilson said choosing to go toward the less muddy end of the field convinced his staff to let Shuford kick instead of going for it on fourth down.
In a game full of big plays, Lyons had the Tigers' share. The junior, who Wilson benched last week, caught 7 passes for 160 yards and had an 88-yard kickoff return to tie the score at 14 in the second quarter.
"Sean and I had the advantage because we knew where the play was going, and we tried to stay to the outside," Lyons said of the play that allowed the Tigers to run out the clock, "We just connected."
Jesuit regained the lead after Lyons' return when Morel connected with Lee Thomas on a 79-yard touchdown pass. Andrew Chaplin added the extra point. Jesuit led 21-14 at halftime.
Holy Cross tailback Moncell Allen tied the game with a 57-yard touchdown run through the muddy side of the field. Allen only had one carry in the first half, Santos providing most of the offense early, finishing 13 of 19 for 222 yards.

William Kalec can be reached at 
wkalec@timespicayune.com or (504)
826-3839


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