An blinding array of unfamiliar spotlights blanket the untested Jesuit JV football team last Friday, the 26th, as they battled DeSoto in their first away game.
Starting off the game cold, the Rangers “came in shell shocked because of DeSoto’s speed,” according to Head Coach Rick Leal. The boys in blue and gold were only able to score 3 points the first half. However, by the end of the fourth quarter Jesuit had really hit their stride, scoring a touchdown and a field goal. Desoto still prevailed, winning 41 to 13.
One of Jesuit’s more experienced JV players, Gus Walker ’18, commented, “A lot of our guys hadn’t gotten any live reps into the spring, so they were learning to adjust to full speed play.”
It wasn’t only Gus who felt the loss to DeSoto was due to a lack of game experience, for sophomore Ryan Eubanks echoed this belief as well. “We came out strong in the second half, but without a scrimmage or any sort of warm up game, it was hard for us to be prepared,” he said.
Both players referenced Jesuit’s scheduled pre-season scrimmage that was unfortunately rained out, resulting in a wave of worry that spread through the team when it came time for the JV’s first game.
“It was kind of a growing game for us, you know? I think we learned a lot and will come back stronger next week,” commented Coach Leal.
In the words of legendary football player and coach Vince Lombardi, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that, whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” This inspirational belief certainly applies to Jesuit’s JV team, as they march into their next week of competition with their heads held high, clawing for success.
