Last Friday, September 30, 2011, the Jesuit Rangers picked up their fourth victory of the season, though it took them four overtimes to get it. The Rangers rallied in the eighth period of play for a 42-34 win over the Rams of Berkner.
In the two most memorable plays of the game, the Rangers coaching staff showed their cheek on audacious plays: a trick pass by WR Taylor Tibbits ’13 on the opening play and a Wildcat formation featuring speedy WR/CB Orion Salters ’14.
Sporting their all blue uniforms, the Rangers came out looking a little slow. Injuries to QB Jack Brezette ’13, DT Akuda Esin ’12, and S Tucker Rice ’12 contributed to the slow start, but the Rangers were able to overcome it.
As most members of the community know, Brezette has a broken left leg. However, Esin is also seriously injured, requiring surgery this week on his ACL, and Rice reported to practice Monday with a boot on his left leg.
The impact of their injuries has affected the team’s play, but the tenacious Rangers have been able to overcome it on the field.
The first quarter was really slow, with no team putting any points up until Berkner scored with a little over one minute remaining. 
Early in the second quarter, the Rangers tied it up at 7-7, but the Rams fought back and were able to take a halftime lead of 14-7 behind QB Yedidiah Louis’ explosive ground game.
Berkner’s formidable ground game kept them in the game during regulation. In total, the Rams passed for only 99 yards, with just eight passes from three different quarterbacks.
Coming into the second half, the Rangers were hoping for a huge come-from-behind win. Coach Hickman insists that his squad is never too far down to mount a comeback.
Defensive Coordinator Paul Maturi prides himself in a tough defense that as he says “always brings the hammer” and “plays until the cows come home.”
His Ranger defense allowed Berkner to score two touchdowns in the third, while the offense only put one TD on the scoreboard. Down 28-14, the Blue and Gold fans were feeling a little shaky and nervous.
Thankfully, the Rangers were able to mount a comeback for the ages, scoring 14 unanswered 4th quarter points. This set the game up for overtime.
Overtime in the UIL is exactly like the NCAA. Each team gets the ball on the 25 and has one first down to get until the score. If they don’t score or get a first down, the other team gets the ball and has the same chances to score until one team outscores the other.
Each OT period was exciting and exhausting, thrilling and scary, close and clutch. The game went through three scoreless periods that included a missed field goal by K Sean Badger ’14.
However, in the fourth OT, Jake Oliver ’13 caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from QB Brian Buell ’12 to give the Rangers the 40-34 lead. By rule the team had to go for a 2-point conversion, which they successfully converted. Maturi’s defense really did have to play until the cows came home in a game that lasted nearly four hours, but their hard work and determination to stop the Rams was flawless. After knocking Yedidiah out of the game, CB Tanner Coffin ’12 saved Jesuit with an interception along the visitors’ sideline.
After the interception, Jesuit players ran onto the field, and many students wanted to be out there to celebrate too.
As OT J.J. Gustafson ’13 put it, “It didn’t matter how many [overtimes] we had to play, we were going to win. Our will to win and heart will always be stronger [than the opponent’s]. We could have played all night. You could see it in everyone’s eyes that we would not be giving up that win.”
Gustafson, a top offensive lineman prospect for the junior class, also remarked about the meaning of the win: “The road to the District Championship went right through Berkner, and we took care of business.”
Gustafson also shared his insight on this week’s matchup against Skyline: “Skyline is the next road block. Because they have yet to face a team like us and haven’t faced as much adversity as we have with injuries, dramatic wins, and being down in games, I think the turn out will be different than what everyone on the outside is thinking. It will not surprise us; we know our team will fight every snap. We are ready to face the number 2 team in the state and take them right off the boards.”
On October 7, as fall and homecoming swiftly approach, the Rangers will take on the Skyline Raiders at 7:30 in what will essentially be the 9-5A District Championship Game.
