What a game! Last Friday the 16th, your Jesuit Rangers played the Lake Highlands Wildcats in their first district away game of the season. It was a frenzy and came down to the wire off a great defensive stop by the Rangers. The student section (Fellowship of the Flag) played a large role in this critical game to pave a path for the Rangers in their district hunt, as some Jesuit fans believed that “we had home field advantage.” It was an electric game overall and was a nail-biter in the 4th quarter. Your Rangers won 32-31! Also, linebacker Luke Buckner ’23 won Dallas Morning News defensive player of the week for his great effort and team win. Buckner scored a 69-yard scoop and took to the house. Additionally, he also had 8 tackles of his own, a major accomplishment!
First Quarter:
First, Jesuit took the lead with roughly 9 minutes to go in the first quarter. Charlie Schmidt threw a receiver screen, which turned into a Jake Musso unexpected passing touchdown to senior receiver Luke Fawcett ’23 for a 62-yard touchdown. Next, Coach Hickman decided to go for the two-point conversion, an early bold move that gave the Rangers the lead. Charlie Schmidt threw a gem in the end zone for Jake Musso ’23.
However, even though the passing offense was on fire, the running game was not on its A-game.
Junior quarterback Tripp Holley for Lake Highlands responded in almost a minute, completing an 86-yard pass for senior receiver Shamar Donaldson, in just two plays. Jesuit could not convert on the third down, sending the ball to Lake Highlands for another opportunity to score.
Lake Highland’s offense, once again, moved down the field in just 4 plays. Holley found
Second Quarter:
Luke Buckner found the end zone with just 20 seconds beginning the second quarter, grabbing a scoop and score fumble to the house for 69 yards, a pivotal moment in the game.
Lake Highlands running back Deonte Dean ’24 took it to the house for 51 yards in one play. Lake Highlands currently was up by 1, with almost halfway to go in the second quarter.
Neither Jesuit nor Lake Highlands could score in 7 minutes until Lake Highlands found Tripp Marshall for a 31-yard pass from Tripp Holley.
The Jesuit offense came out onto the field, firing on all cylinders, driving down the field in 7 plays, Schmidt threw a dart in the end zone for Musso with 12 seconds on the clock. This swayed the momentum for the Rangers going into the second half of the game.
Third Quarter
The third quarter for both teams was scoreless, primarily a defensive battle throughout the quarter that went back and forth between both offenses.
Junior #4 Cooper Cutler ’24 lining up on the hash. Credit to Flicksby.Rigs by Jaxx Rigelsky ’24.
Fourth Quarter
Lake Highlands got the ball at the beginning of the 4th quarter, and senior Shallum Peter nailed the 38-yard field goal to go up by 2.
Sophomore Noah McGough ’25 knocked in the 25-yard field goal to go up by 1, with a Ranger 14-play drive. Lake Highlands received the ball on their own 28-yard line with a little over three minutes to go in the 4th quarter, multiple passes were incomplete, one being broken up and disrupted by our very own editor-in-chief and safety Logan Thompson ’24 making a huge 3 and outstanding plays. Lake Highlands could not convert the long 4th and 12, handing the ball back to the Rangers.
Jesuit defense in a huddle. Credit to Flicks.by.Rigs by Jaxx Rigelsky ’24.
Overall and Stats:
Quarterback Charlie Schmidt went 14/26 for 248 yards, for a rushing and passing touchdown. He also was the leading rusher for 19 carries and 30 yards. Cutler had 3 receptions of 108 yards of his own, a season-high. Jake Musso ’23 also caught 7 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.
What a well-executed game for the defense! Even though the Rangers did give up 31 points to a high-powered Lake Highlands offense; the Rangers had 2 takeaways from junior Fred Lucky ’24 and senior Roark Holman grabbed one in the second quarter. Luke Buckner led the charge with 8 tackles, also Grant Peters ’23 also had 1 tackle for a loss and 6 tackles. And junior Grayson Wombacher ’24 added 6 tackles for the night.
The Ranger’s defense at the end created huge stops and allowed the Rangers to end in victory, a major win on the road through the remaining games in district.
Jesuit hosts the Irving Tigers for Faculty Appreciation Night @ Ranger Stadium on the 23rd at 7. Irving comes off a 63-0 loss to Highland Park. However, their record is 1-2, making them last in district. The Rangers have a great opportunity ahead!
Make sure you come on out to the game or watch on www.jesuitrangers.org!
Jesuit celebrating their victory against Lake Highlands. Credit to Flicks.by.Rigs for the photos.
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