Walking out onto the field, The Jesuit Freshmen see the tall Arlington Bowie teams ready to play. However, Jesuit would prove to be the victors in this match-up, defending their home turf for the first time as Rangers.
On Thursday, August 27th, both the Blue and Gold Teams won their season openers at home, winning 26-0 and 27-6, respectively. Lockdown defense and explosive offense for both secured a solid start to their season.
First, defense was key in the Blue Team’s shutout performance against Arlington Bowie. “The defense played very well all night long,” said Head Coach Bob Wunderlick. The standouts were Nico Hernandez, Hector Juarez, and Joseph Schutz. The Blue offense balanced out the good defensive showing. Bear Adamson had the first receiving touchdown of the year and quarterback Lota Ifeacho ran the ball well also.
“In the Gold game, the defense kept the offense in the game and gave the offense short fields off key turnovers,” Coach Wunderlick said. Freshmen Eli Price, Connor Curreri, Matthew Johnson, and Bryce Clark were the big defensive play-makers. Clark, a safety, talked about his big play: a pick-six, “The quarterback scrambled out to the right and threw the ball short.” Clark caught it on the run and ran all the way back down the field. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Matthew Priddy connected with receiver Nick Hafertepe for a touchdown. Blocking was a key aspect of the Gold Team’s win. “Running back William Piot had some key blocks and runs, and the offensive line stood out as a group,” Coach Wunderlick said. Bernardo Gonzalez, the team’s kicker, had an excellent first game with two field goals and a punt that pinned Arlington Bowie inside the 10 yard line.
Coach Wunderlick looks forward to seeing how the team will grow over the season. “Our goal this season is to work hard and to try and improve each and every week,” he said. He believes the team’s strength is depth, “With over 100 players, there are opportunities for everyone to contribute.” However, he admits a drawback that many players can bring. “Teaching so many is challenging, and getting reps for all is also difficult.” All in all, Coach Wunderlick is excited for a season with this year’s athletic defense and balanced offense. “The coaches and I are looking forward to seeing just how good this team can become over the next nine weeks.”
