The Jesuit Ranger football team and The Roundup squared off in the game of the century this past Friday in the second annual Expository Bowl. The game was a thriller for the thousands of fans who showed up, and it proved to be a nail-biter that came down to the last second. On the back of their quarterback and Sports Editor, Jack Durham ’16, The Roundup was able to defeat the football team 14-6.
Going into the game, Ryan Brooks ’16, running back for The Roundup, stated, “We really just wanted to get out there and win. We looked good in practice all week and I knew we could pull it out.”
The game started slowly, both sides not scoring their first couple of drives, but then the football team struck first with a touchdown pass from Max Loughborough ’16 to Mack Wageman ’16. Coach Hickman then gave The Roundup, and, more importantly, our QB Jack Durham, the calming words and advice to go score. Durham started marching down the field, moving the chains on his feet with 10-15 yard scrambles. Once he got the defense cheating up on him to stop him on the run, he fired a strike to Jack Lynch ’17 for a 30 yd TD. After the two-point conversion to Ryan Brooks ’16 in the flat, it was 8-6 The Roundup at the half.
The second half was similar to the first, as The Roundup battled on defense in the first part of the half. With about ten minutes left in the game, The Roundup started what will soon be coined “The Drive.” Durham was connecting with all of his receivers, throwing crisp, intermediate routes. Brooks played a key role on “The Drive,” hauling in 6 passes for 49 yards. Durham was milking the clock just like Coach Hickman taught him, and the football team was running out of time. With about 2 minutes left in the game, Durham fired a strike to Nate Thompson ’16 for what would be the game-winner. Thompson said, “We went completely beastmode on the football team, leaving it all on the field. I think our work in the off-season is ultimately what made it so easy for us.”
Durham went on to be named MVP and commented, “I felt a little sorry for the football team. It’s pretty hard to lose at your own sport, but I’m happy we came away with the win.” Brooks stated, “Hard work really pays off. Our guys came out fired up and set the tone in the beginning of the game and the football team couldn’t adjust to our intensity.”
Following the game, Peyton Long ’16, captain of the football team and Navy Commit, was devastated, saying, “This is hard, man. We haven’t lost in so long, but to lose to a team like this really just makes you look and reconsider your life.”
Mac Elliott ’16 echoed Long’s statement, commenting, “I’m just glad I’ve been able to sort of keep my mind off it. Everything’s been so sad since Friday.”
The Roundup will look to build its win streak against the football team next year and the many years to come.
