The magnitude of the football game between Loyola Academy of Wilmette, Illinois and our Jesuit Rangers was unknown to the locals in Dublin, Ireland this past Friday. They got to witness, in their first high school American football game, an instant classic. This game will not soon be forgotten. In an almost appropriate manner, the Jesuit Rangers and Loyola Ramblers gave these welcoming hosts a glimpse of the camaraderie, will, and passion that unites all high school football teams in America. The ability of a team, backed up against a stone wall, to overcome adversity allowed one culture to witness the heart of another. Ironically, many of the Irish fans probably did not even understand all the mistakes made (7 turnovers and 23 penalties for 222 yards combined). Instead, they happily cheered on players, and afterwards gave encouraging remarks on the “well-played match.”
The Rangers’ 2012 season opener, as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament, in Dublin, Ireland was one for the books to say the least. In as neutral as a site one could ask for, Illinois rules were implemented as Loyola was the technical home-team. Donnybrook Stadium, regularly a rugby stadium, was the site of a monumental cultural exchange that goes way beyond a basic football game.
Led by senior captains, LT JJ Gustafson, DE JD Waggoner, WR Jake Oliver, LB Jordan Mastrogiovanni, and QB Jack Brezette, the Rangers
received the first kickoff of their 2012 season. However, their first drive ended in two plays when Loyola intercepted Brezette’s pass. This opening drive was not the last of the nerves and bugs that troubled the Rangers during the first 24 minutes of the game. Loyola marched down the grass field with somewhat ease. QB Peter Pujals punched in the Ramblers’ first touchdown on European soil from 1-yard out and gave Loyola the early lead. The Rangers didn’t come out with their heads down just yet. Still trying to debug some offensive issues, with the defense playing their tails off, Brezette connected with WR/DB Orion Salters ’14 for the first score of the season. A fade pass to the back of the endzone, Brezette placed the ball perfectly, barely leading Orion farther than the Loyola defender. The 8-yard strike was a picture-perfect throw and catch for the Rangers. After the first quarter, the game was tied up 7-7.
The first six minutes of the second quarter were scoreless by both teams until Pujals and WR Luke Ford broke the silence with a 77-yard pass after a blown coverage by the Rangers. Three minutes later, K Robert Reedy extended Loyola’s lead to 10 points, and the Rangers were trying to keep focused on the sideline. After extensive talks on the sideline with Head Coach Brandon Hickman and Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Short, the Rangers wished to leave the field for halftime with a smaller margin between the teams. Brezette led the Rangers down the field, often looking for Oliver. The two finally connected on a 6-yard strike with 1:27 left in the half, despite the double-coverage on Oliver. Loyola, however, had no intentions of going into the halftime break without a bigger cushion. Pujals and the Ramblers plowed down the field with efficiency. Pujals powered in another TD from one yard out. At halftime, the Ramblers led the Rangers by 9, with the score 23-14.
At halftime, the coaches offered encouragement and adjustments, reminding Jesuit that they didn’t come halfway across the world to lose a football game. Hickman stressed allowing Loyola zero points in the second half. The Rangers came out of the halftime break with a winning mentality.
Led by LB Mastrogiovanni and LB Caleb Kunasek ’13, Jesuit allowed no points in the third quarter. Rather, they forced 3-and-outs and put an emphasis on forcing turnovers, including a fumble recovery by DT Taylor Stine ’15. With under a minute left in the 3rd, Salters scored his second touchdown of the night. K Cody Wicker ’13 missed the PAT, though, because the uprights were 6 feet narrower for rugby play. After three quarters, the Rangers were hoping for a perfect 4th to get them the win and make Dallas proud.
Once the 4th quarter was underway, the Rangers almost immediately scored some points. A 1-yard rush into the endzone by RB Will Brown ’13 gave the Rangers their first lead of the night. Three minutes later, Loyola’s RB Julius Holley regained the lead with an 8-yard rush. With 8 minutes left in the game, it was now crunch time for Jesuit. The defenses kept going back and forth, including what seemed like a deadly Loyola interception near midfield. However, Salters forced another Loyola fumble, and the ball was back in the Rangers’ hands once again. Jesuit tried to roll down the field and get into the endzone, but a 4th down called for the field goal team to take the field. From the right hash with the clock winding down, Wicker nailed a 28-yard field goal putting Jesuit up by 1. The Rangers’ sideline burst with joy and jubilation, but there was still 49 seconds left in the game. A crushing 4th down hit on Loyola’s Pujals, Mastrogiovanni sealed Jesuit’s win. As the final ticks of the clock wound down, the Rangers stormed the field to celebrate the monumental victory.
Immediately after the game, young children for Ireland were asking for autographs and trying on helmets, asking if they were “real gold.”
With humble chuckles and smiles, players remarked no, and like that, the Jesuit party on the Emerald Isle was started.
Sitting down immediately following the game, superstar hero Cody Wicker said that “the game was close the entire time, and [he] was preparing to go in and kick a big field goal the whole game – last second or not.” In addition despite the smaller width of the uprights, Cody, was “pretty scared, probably the most scared [he’s] ever been.” Wicker made an emphasis on saying that without the rest of the team the game winning field goal wouldn’t be possible.
Key players in the game: Brezette, who went 26-47 for 330 yards and 2 touchdowns; Oliver, who had 13 catches for 163 yards and 1 touchdown; Brown, who had 17 rushes for 111 yards and 1 touchdown; Salters who had 2 touchdowns and forced a key fumble on defense; and Stine who had 2 fumble recoveries.
Friday’s win marked the second straight season that the Rangers have opened up their season with wins by 1 point. Remember that just last year, Jesuit defeated Flower Mound 42-41. With this huge win under their belt, the Rangers look to build on the confidence and improve on their mistakes – one of Coach Hickman’s main stressing points.
Tomorrow, the Rangers take on their second opponent of the year – the Keller Fossil Ridge Panthers. Come out and support your Rangers in their home opener at 7:30!
