The Football Tradition of the Catholic League in 

2022

Blue Jays erase 12-0 deficit with16 straight points

By MIKE STROM Contributing writer

    Won-loss records aside, the 103^rd meeting marking 100 years of Jesuit vs. Holy Cross football did not disappoint. Jesuit trailed for three quarters before rallying with the final points coming on a 34-yard scoring pass from quarterback Beau Perez to wide receiver Jace Larsen on the first play of the fourth quarter to record a16-12 District 9-5A victory Friday night at City Park’s Tad Gormley Stadium.

   Pere and Larsen’s completion came with 11 minutes, 50 seconds remaining coupled with a stout second-half defensive effort by the blue Jays gave coach Ryan Manale’s team its first winning streak of the season at two games. Jesuit (3-6, 1-4 in 9-5A) won its fifth straight meeting against the Tigers to increase its series lead to 61-40-1. Despite a spirited effort against its archrivals, Holy Cross (2-7, 0-6 in 9-5A) completed its Catholic League season winless in six games. Jesuit’s victory keeps the Blue Jays alive for a wild-card playoff berth in select Division I while Holy Cross’ aspirations took a hit.  The Tigers and Blue Jays entered with unofficial power ratings of 21 and 22, according to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

How it was won

   Perez and Larsen teamed for their eighth completion on the game-winning score from 34 yards away on the first play of fourth quarter.  Jesuit’s defense completed a scoreless second half by shutting down the Tigers on their final three possessions. In the first half, Holy Cross pounced on the Blue Jays by breaking from the gate with two consecutive impressive scoring drives that accounted for a 12-7 lead at halftime. Junior Koby Young, a major Division I wide receiver prospect, was a surprise starter at quarterback and directed a Wildcat style offense on scoring drives of 80 and 79 years that ended with a pair of scoring passes to wide receiver Finn Martin covering 9 and 61 yards.

The first touchdown drive opened with 17 running plays that produced 71 yards before Young shuffled a pass to Martin in motion cutting behind the line.  The second-quarter score came via a pass down the right side between Young and Martin that caught the Blue Jays off guard in converting a second-and-22 situation.   

Jesuit answered the two-touchdown deficit with a 10-play, 70-yard possession that ended with Perez’s 1-yard run off the right side followed by Aiden Corbello’s PAT kick. The Blue Jays added a 38-yarad field goal by Corbello in the third quarter to narrow their deficit to 12-10 heading into the final period.

 Player of the game

 Beau Perez, Jesuit: The Blue Jays quarterback accounted for 201 of Jesuit’s 258 yards of offense and both touchdowns with his passing and running.  A 6-foot-5, 207-pound junior, Perez completed 12 of 18 passes for 163 yards and the game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Jace Larsen on the first play of the fourth quarter.  Perez also scored Jesuit’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run that capped a 70-yard possession following Holy Cross’ two touchdowns.  Perez and Larsen’s TD covered 34 yards.

 Notable

▪ Perez was named Jesuit’s Most outstanding Player while Young earned similar honors for Holy Cross.  Young, operating in large part as a Wildcat quarterback, rushed for 129 yards on 28 carries in addition to completing both of his passes for another 70 yards and the two TDs to Martin.

▪ Jesuit defensive backs Nick Jacobs and Connor Cappo ended two Holy Cross scoring threats in the second half with interceptions in or near or Blue Jays’ end zone.

▪ Holy Cross quarterback Cole Canatella, out he past two weeks with an injury to his right throwing shoulder, started the second half for the Tigers, but played sparingly.  Canatella finished 3 of 7 passing for 19 yards and was intercepted twice.

▪   Defensive back Dylan Hazelwood recorded a clutch interception in the Tigers’ end zone in the closing minutes of the first half after a blocked punt to preserve a 12-7 lead.  Hazelwood picked off a Perez pass intended for wide receiver Jace Larsen to halt a scoring threat that began at the Holy Cross 20-yard line after linebacker Wyatt Mire’s block of a punt that linebacker Tyler Autin recovered.

▪ Jesuit closes the regular season next Friday with a road game versus Rummel scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at SLU’s Strawberry Stadium in Hammond.  Holy Cross ends the regular season with a non-district road game at East St. John scheduled for 7 tp.m. next Friday at Joseph Keller Stadium in LaPlace.

CRESCENT CITY

 SPORTS

REPLAY: Jesuit rallies to win

100^th anniversary game over Holy Cross

October 28, 2022

By Lenny Vangilder

Category: Preps

NEW ORLEANS – The 100^th anniversary of Holy Cross vs. Jesuit had a little bit of everything, including a damaged “Golden Football.”  In the end, the Blue Jays made the plays in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tigers 16-12 Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium. The game aired live on Crescent City Sports.  It will re-air Tuesday at 7 p.m. on YurView.

The Blue Jays (3-6, 1-4) never led until the first play of the fourth quarter, when Beau Perez hit Jace Larsen on a 34-yard catch and run to make it 16-12.  The two-point attempt on an option pass by Larsen was broken up.  Holy Cross (2-7, 0-6) went three-and-out on its first two possessions of the fourth quarter before putting a last-chance drive together with 2:29 remaining.

Starting at its 24, Kobe Young - the wide receiver moved to quarterback after an injury to Cole Canatella two weeks ago – primarily used his legs to get the Tigers into the red zone with 20 seconds left.

With 14 seconds on the clock and no time outs remaining, Canatella came on in a must-pass situation.  Connor Cappo’s interception on the final play of the game sealed the fifth consecutive Blue Jay victory in the series.

Holy Cross, behind the running of Young and Ke’Rynn Smith, scored on its first two possessions to take a 12-0 lead.

The Tigers ran it 24 times on the first two possessions – 12 runs each by Young and Smith -If you have any suggestions f but ironically, both scoring plays came through the air, a 9-yard shovel pass from Young to Finn Martin on the first drive and a 61-yard pass to cap the second drive.

Jesuit responded to make it a 12-7 game on Perez’s 1-yard keeper with 5:33 left in the first half.  The Blue Jays pulled within 12-10 on a 38-yard Aiden Corbello field goal on the first possession of the third quarter.

Young rushed for 133 yards and passed for 70 and was selected the Tigers’ outstanding player.  Perez, who passed for 160 yards and rushed for 20 while accounting for both Jesuit touchdowns, was the Blue Jays outstanding player.  The “Golden Football,” which has been presented to the winning school since 2006, apparently was damaged before the game and snapped from its base.  Jesuit coach Ryan Manale held the ball while talking to his team postgame.

Jesuit leads the all-time series 61-40-1 with one ruled “no contest.”           

Editor's Note:
    Hello prep fans, this is my first entry onto the Blue Jays-Tigers website since I have taken over the website as editor a few months ago.  I would like to thank Ron Gravois for his invaluable assistance in getting me off to a good start in chronicling the Blue Jays-Tigers football series.  If you have any suggestions or spot any errors, please notify me by email to ajstoltz@aol.com.