REPLAY: Jesuit secures first Catholic League title in 10 years with 35-10 win over Rummel

NEW ORLEANS – When Ryan Manale was hired as the head coach of the Jesuit Blue Jays this year, he hoped the program would take flight to immediate success and contend for championships.

Eight games into his tenure at Jesuit, the Blue Jays have soared to a Catholic League title, capped by a resounding 35-10 victory Friday over the Rummel Raiders on Homecoming and Senior Night at Tad Gormley Stadium.

“I didn’t want to wait three or four years to start winning,” said Manale. “I wanted to win now, win with these seniors.”

Leading that group of seniors for Jesuit (8-0, 6-0) was senior quarterback Jack Larriviere, who accounted for four of the team’s five touchdowns, rushing for three scores and throwing for another.

“These seniors are such a great group of kids,” said Manale. “When these 28 seniors leave here and go out into the community, this community is going to be in really good hands.”

Jesuit earned its first Catholic League title since 2011.

Defensively, the Blue Jays created havoc for Rummel offense missing their standout running back, sophomore Jaidyn Martin, who was injured the previous week against John Curtis. The Jesuit defense generated four turnovers with a trio coming on the first three Raiders possessions of the game.

Junior Nick Foley intercepted Casey Avrard’s second pass of the game. Senior Joseph Barnett recovered Avrard’s fumble on a third-down sack on Rummel’s next possession, setting up Jesuit deep in Rummel territory to lead to their first touchdown. Senior Parker Peyronnin recovered a fumbled an errant option pitch.

Larriviere needed just two plays to put the first points on the board, barreling into the end zone on a 4-yard run to give the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead with 6:42 to play in the first quarter following the second Raiders miscue.

The ensuing drive for the Raiders was déjà vu, as the Raiders turned it over again on the second play of the drive on a fumble, giving the Blue Jays possession at the Rummel 35-yard line. Larriviere would cash in on the good fortune again, this time connecting with Jace Larsen on a 17-yard pass, extending the Jesuit lead to 14-0 with 4:10 to play in the first quarter.

Finally on their fourth possession, the Raiders managed to both hold onto the ball and cut into the Blue Jays lead. Starting at their own 15-yard line, Rummel methodically marched down the field with a 10-play drive, capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Tyronne Hayes to draw within 14-7 just before the opening period ended.

Not to be outdone, Jesuit responded with their longest drive of the night. Taking over at their 27-yard line, the Blue Jays imposed their will on a 13-play drive that Larriviere finished off with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 6:24 mark of the half.

Special teams for Jesuit would also get in on the action, catching the Raiders kickoff return team off guard with a pooch kick and recovering it at the Rummel 30-yard line mid-way thru the second quarter.

Rummel (5-3, 3-3) was able to prevent further damage, turning Jesuit over one downs. The Raiders then marched downfield and cut into the Jesuit lead with  Chris Wallace’s 37-yard field goal in the final minute of the half to make it 21-10.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Jesuit needed just two plays to find the end zone in the final quarter of action. Junior Harry Reinhardt bulldozed his way into the end zone, stretching the Blue Jays lead out to 28-10 with 11:35 to play in the game.

Following a shanked Rummel punt that gave Jesuit the ball at the Rummel 29-yard line, nine straight running plays pounded away at the Raiders and ended up with the final score for the Jays. After freshman Jasper Parker got the ball down to the Rummel 1-yard line, Larriviere scored on a 1-yard keeper for his fourth touchdown of the night.

The Blue Jays defense added one more turnover notch to their belt when freshman Preston Cantrelle recovered La’Damion McDowell’s fumble.

“We’ll watch how the brackets play out. It looks like we might be a 2 or 3 seed,” said Manale looking ahead to the playoffs. “We obviously want all the games to have to come through New Orleans, but whatever happens we’ll be ready. And we know depending how the bracket shapes out, there’s the potential we could have a semi-final type matchup for our first playoff game and our guys will be ready, if that’s the case.”

Next up for both teams will be playoff matchups. While Jesuit will have a first round bye as the likely No. 2 seed in the Division I bracket, Rummel will await the release of the LHSAA playoff brackets Sunday afternoon to learn their opponent and destination. The Raiders will likely host a first-round matchup next weekend.