Note: Two articles appear here. The first is from the Advocate and the second is from NOLA.com (Times-Picayune)
Huge first half enough for Holy Cross in win over Jesuit
· BY MIKE STROM Special to The Advocate
· SEP 29, 2017 - 10:57 PM
(Photo from Advocate website. Sorry, no caption
provided.)
It was a first half to remember for the Holy Cross Tigers in their 98th meeting against Jesuit on Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The second half, not so much.
The host Tigers scored on each of their first four possessions and mixed in an interception return for a touchdown that accounted for all of their scoring in the opening two periods to record a 31-17 District 9-5A victory against the Blue Jays.
Senior running back Landen Bates ignited the Tigers by rushing for 209 yards on 25 carries with a 79-yard bolt for a touchdown on Holy Cross’ first play from scrimmage.
Junior defensive back Dru Stephens followed one snap later with a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown to get the Tigers rolling toward a 31-0 advantage that finished as a 31-7 margin at intermission.
Although the Tigers never looked back in recording their third victory in five seasons against the Blue Jays, there were enough anxious second-half moments to take some of the glitter off of the Golden Football Trophy exchanged at game’s end signifying Holy Cross trimming Jesuit’s advantage in the series to 56-40-1.
Holy Cross (3-2, 2-0 in District 9-5A) was limited to 41 second-half yards by the Blue Jays and just one first down via a dead ball foul penalty while Jesuit (1-4, 0-2) accounted for all of the second-half scoring.
The Blue Jays reached Holy Cross territory on five of their first six second-half possessions, but could only cash in on two of them. Jesuit got a third-quarter touchdown on Alex Watermeier’s 7-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Brenden Berggren and a fourth-quarter field goal by Max Scheurich.
Jesuit’s final two trips into Tiger territory ended on downs at the Holy Cross 16- and 44-yard lines as Watermeier was pressured into a 14-for-40 passing effort with three interceptions recorded by Stephens and linebackers Austin Shaw and Josh Gillard.
The Tigers scored their third and fourth touchdowns of the first half on drives covering 45 and 93 yards with Jaden Moran completing a 1-yard pass to defensive lineman Mikey Ricks for the first TD and running back Celven Hulbert running 5 yards for the second.
Nolan Heitmeier kicke a 35-yard field and hit all four of his PAT kicks to complete the Tigers’ scoring.
The Tigers totaled 268 yards rushing and 338 overall while recording 14 first downs. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, finished with 215 yards and 15 first downs, but managed only 44 rushing yards against a determined Tigers defense.
In avenging a 38-0 loss to the Blue Jays a year ago, the Tigers jumped out to a 31-0 lead by scoring on each of their first four possessions in addition to getting the 42-yard interception return by Stephens for their second touchdown.
Bates got the Tigers rolling when he bolted 79 yards off the left side on Holy Cross’ first snap from scrimmage to score the game’s first touchdown. The senior running back served as the Tigers’ offensive linchpin throughout the first half in rushing for 171 yards on 12 carries.
One of Holy Cross’ few first-half miscues came on the game’s fourth play when wide receiver Kym Wimberly Jr. had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown negated by a penalty. Bates, however, scored on the next snap.
Tiger team enters the field to great fanfare.
NOLA.com Story:
Holy Cross 31, Jesuit 17:
Landen Bates, Tigers take control in first half
Updated on September 29, 2017 at 11:49 PMPosted on September 29, 2017 at 11:26 PM
(No caption provided.)
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
at Tad Gormley Stadium, Friday (Sept. 29), District 9-5A
Records: Jesuit, 1-4 (0-2); Holy Cross, 3-2 (3-0)
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Jesuit - 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17
Holy Cross - 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 31
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Landon Bates, Holy Cross
Jesuit could not contain Landon Bates. On his first rushing attempt, Bates took the ball to the house with a 79-yard scamper. He had more than 100 yards in the first quarter and finished with 214 yards.
HOW IT WAS WON
Jesuit could not control Holy Cross' offense in the first half, as Bates and sophomore Celvin Hulbert gashed the Blue Jays' defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers contained running back Michael Torry, holding him to 44 yards and 14 carries. They also dialed up the pressure on Jesuit quarterback Alex Watermeier, who threw three interceptions and finished 14-of-40 for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Holy Cross play more conservatively in the second half, and didn't pick up a first down after leading 31-7 at halftime.
NOTABLE
· Holy Cross' Kym Wimberly had a punt return touchdown called back because of an illegal block in the back. Bates' 79-yard touchdown run came on the following play.
· Jesuit did not have a first down in the first quarter.
· The Tigers did not punt the entire first half. On the other hand, during the second half, the Tigers did not even pick up a first down.
HE SAID IT
Holy Cross running back Landen Bates: "My parents preached to me to play my heart out and my coaches reinforced that. They told me to just keep pushing."
Holy Cross coach Eric Rebaudo: "The running game in the first half really set the tone. When you're able to run the ball that opens up a lot of options."
TEAM STATS
Jesuit: 223 yards of total offense: 53 rushing; 170 passing
Holy Cross: 345 yards of total offense: 275 rushing; 70 passing
JESUIT INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: Michael Torry, 18-44, TD; Willie Robinson 2-4; Alex Watermeier, 3-5.
Receiving: Noah Varnado, 6-107; Berggren Brenden, 3-11, TD; Robert McMahon, 3-34; Drew Black, 1-6; Michael Torry.
Passing: Alex Watermeier, 14-40, 170, TD, 3 INT.
HOLY CROSS INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: Landen Bates, 26-214, TD; Celvin Hulbert, 8-34, TD; Kym Wimberly, 6-18; Jaden Moran, 3-9.
Receiving: Tyler Kirkwood, 2-47; Rhett Weidenbacher, 1-19; Mikey Ricks, 1-1, TD; Kym Wimberly, 2-3.
Passing: Jaden Moran, 6-11, 70 TD, INT.
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
HC - Landon Bates with a 79-yard TD run, 0-7, 10:24
HC - Dru Stephens with 25-yard interception return for a TD, 0-14, 9:34
HC - Nolan Heitmeier with 34-yard field goal, 0-17, 3:29
Second quarter
HC - Mikey Ricks with 1-yard TD reception, 0-24, 11:12
HC - Celven Hulbert with 3-yard TD run, 0-31, 4:15
JES - Michael Torry with 4-yard TD run, 7-31, 2:58
Third quarter
JES - Watermeier pass to Brenden Berggren for a 7-yard TD, 14-31, 2:50
JES - Max Scheurich with a 24 yard field goal, 17-31, 10:23