Holy Cross turns back Jesuit

Brady passes for three touchdowns as Tigers take 20-9 victory

Saturday, September 29, 2007

By Pierce W. Huff

After a disappointing 14-point loss to Jesuit last season, most of the Holy Cross players vowed revenge when the city's oldest high school football rivalry resumed Friday.

Mission accomplished.

Taking advantage of a one-dimensional Jesuit offense, Holy Cross quarterback Chris Brady had 332 yards offense, including 273 yards and three touchdown passing, to lead the Tigers to a 20-9 victory.

"After the loss last year, we figured we had to make up for it," Brady said.

It was homecoming for Holy Cross. Jesuit leads the series 50-37-1.

Both teams entered the game coming off losses the previous week. Jesuit lost to Baton Rouge-Catholic 16-9. Holy Cross lost to Vandebilt Catholic 42-14.

The game marked the first time Jesuit played Holy Cross outside of the city's Catholic League. Holy Cross was reclassified by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association from Class 5A to Class 4A for this season and next season.

Jesuit scored on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead. The Blue Jays got the ball when linebacker T. J. Faucheaux intercepted a pass by Brady and returned it 30 yards to the Holy Cross 7-yard line. The interceptions was the first thrown by Brady this season. Jesuit running back Payten Jason ran off left guard for a 1-yard touchdown.

But Holy Cross came back and tied the score at 7 on the ensuing possession when quarterback Brady threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Beau Dickinson. The score capped a nine-play, 85-yard drive.

Brady threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kal Bonura on a fake-reverse play to give Holy Cross a 14-7 lead with 2:50 remaining in the first half. Bonura injured his shoulder last week.

"Having him play meant a whole lot to us," Brady said.

Holy Cross led 14-7 at halftime. Brady completed eight of 13 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the first half. Jason rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries.

"We let them convert on too many third-and-longs," Jesuit Coach Wayde Keiser said. "You can't give them another set of downs."

Jesuit (3-2) cut the Holy Cross lead to 14-9 in the third quarter when Tigers punter Zachary Collier's punt was blocked and he was penalized for illegal kicking in the end zone, which resulted in a safety.

Holy Cross (4-1) scored the game's final points when Brady threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Bonura with 3:13 left.

"It was a great win for the kids, and the defense played awesome," Holy Cross Coach Barry Wilson said.

Pierce W. Huff can be reached at phuff@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3809.