Replay: Holy Cross blanks Jesuit for first time since 1976

NEW ORLEANS – It had been six years since Holy Cross defeated Jesuit, nearly a half-century since the Tiger defense held the Blue Jays without a point in “The Rivalry,” and 75 years since they posted this convincing a victory.

Dressed in all green, Holy Cross started fast and never looked back in a 30-0 blanking of the Blue Jays in the 104th meeting between the schools Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Holy Cross (7-2, 4-2) snapped a five-game Blue Jays win streak in the series and pitched its first shutout over their traditional rival since a 13-0 victory in 1976.

The last win by 30 or more points? Go all the way back to 1948 when the Tigers won 55-0.

In addition, the win likely assured Holy Cross of a top-eight playoff seed in Division I select, which would mean a first-round bye.

Tiger quarterback Cole Canatella was nearly perfect, completing his first 11 passes and finishing 14 of 16 for 165 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Koby Young caught eight passes for 95 yards.

Running backs Ke’Rynn Smith and Kayden Andeh combined for three touchdowns.

Holy Cross scored on its first two possessions to jump to a 13-0 lead. Canatella hit Derrick Johnson on a 12-yard touchdown to cap the opening 65-yard drive for the Tiger offense, and after forcing a Jesuit punt, Canatella led a 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard run by Andeh.

It was 13-0 at halftime, but the Tigers, who won the toss and deferred, quickly extended the lead when Smith scored on a 6-yard run on the first possession of the third quarter.

A mishandled lateral gave Holy Cross a short field moments later, but the Jesuit defense stiffened and forced a 28-yard Noel Mora field goal to make it 23-0.

The Tigers capped the evening with a 10-play, 60-yard drive that took more than half of the fourth quarter. Smith went the final 10 yards.

Jesuit (3-6, 1-4), which entered the game 15th in the Division I select power rankings, wraps up the regular season a district matchup with Archbishop Rummel next Friday at the Shrine on Airline. Holy Cross (7-2, 4-2) steps out of district on Thursday to meet East St. John.