Blue and gold versus orange and black. The Dallas Jesuit Rangers faced off against the Rockwall Yellowjackets for the third consecutive year in the playoffs this past Friday, November 20th. Splitting the last two games, the winner of this game not only advanced in the playoffs but also secured bragging rights over the losing team.
Both teams entered the game with an equal chance to win with Jesuit boasting a 10-1 record and with Rockwall entering at 8-3. The game surpassed all expectations as it came right down to the wire.
Head Coach Brandon Hickman stressed that among the players and the coaches, “The feeling was the same as every year in the 2nd round. We wanted to advance and so did [Rockwall].”
Right from the start of the game, the Jesuit offense dominated the Rockwall defense, as late in the first quarter, quarterback Jacob Palisch ’17 was able to find Connor Lanpher ’16 for a quick ten-yard touchdown. The Palisch to Lanpher connection was the first of two touchdowns in the first quarter between the duo and the first of three total throughout the game.
Behind two Connor Lanpher touchdowns, the Rangers were able to take a 14-7 lead entering the second quarter. Junior receiver John Wunderlick commented, “Offensively, we were able to execute in the first quarter which allowed us to put some points on the board. The defense was able to make some stops which gave us a quick lead early in the game.”
Unfortunately, the second quarter did not go the Rangers way as Rockwall scored nine unanswered points. The Rangers’ defense knew entering the game that they faced a huge challenge in stopping the Rockwall offense. Throughout most of the game, the defense did a terrific job, but it was the big plays that the defense allowed that really hurt them. A 70-yard touchdown pass was the main eyesore in the Rangers’ first half, leaving them trailing 16-14 at halftime.
At the start of the second half, the Rangers allowed a quick touchdown to the Yellowjackets, putting them behind 23-14. However, the Rangers quickly answered with another Connor Lanpher touchdown from 44 yards out, followed by a John Wengierski ’16 field goal the next possession to give the Rangers a 24-23 lead with 9 minutes left in the game.
The defense was key in this quick comeback, a point echoed by defensive end Ryan Brooks’16 who said, “When we played at the top of our game, we were able to contain them and get quick stops putting our offense on the field, but it was those big plays that hurt us not only by putting us down but also by giving them the momentum.”
After the Rangers regained the lead, Rockwall running back Caleb Broach ’16 busted through the Rangers’ D for one of his three touchdowns, this time from 50 yards out. Broach’s immense skill made him a major problem for the Jesuit’s defense and he was a key contributor to Rockwall’s success. The touchdown put the Rangers down by 7 with around 8 minutes left to play.
The Rangers narrowed the margin to 4 after another Wengierski field goal with about 5 minutes left to play. The Rangers put their faith in their defense’s ability to get one stop that would allow them to have one last chance to score.
Defensive End Jordan Rice noted, “We knew we could get a stop when it mattered. We believed we could get our job done and give the offense one last chance to get a drive together and win the game.”
The defense did just that and forced a Rockwall punt. Unfortunately, the Rockwall punt was terrific and the ball rolled all the way to Jesuit’s one-yard line. The Rangers would have to do the improbable and go 99 yards to win the game, with about 3 minutes left.
Jesuit was unable to generate any offense and was forced to give the ball back to Rockwall, who punched in another touchdown to go up 38-27, winning the game and ending the Rangers’ historic run.
Coach Hickman reflected on the game saying, “I thought we contained the running back for most of the night and we moved the ball well and sustained some long drives. Both teams played a pretty flawless game except for our one turnover before the half. I felt good when John made the field goal to go up 24-23 in the 4th, but we just couldn’t finish the game. We had finished every game up to this point but couldn’t close it out and they did. They have a very good team and I don’t want to take anything away from Rockwall. We have a lot of respect for their coaches and their program, and their kids were class acts afterward. There is a mutual respect between both programs. We knew it was going to be a fight for four quarters and I’m proud of the way our team played and the effort our boys showed the entire night.”
The season had to come to an end, but it will always be one that Rangers fans will remember. Coach Hickman stressed this to his team, saying, “I told our players afterward it stings, but don’t let this one game take away from what we accomplished this season. Our senior leadership was great and it’s hard to say goodbye to these guys you’ve been around for 4 years. We accomplished something that has never been accomplished here winning 10 games and going undefeated in district. Winning is great, but I’m prouder of the way our players carried themselves and represented Jesuit every Friday night.”
Ryan Brooks reflected on his four years wearing the blue and gold: “I will always remember my time as a Ranger as some of the best times of my life and will never forget all we accomplished as a team.”
Looking forward to next season, the Rangers will look to repeat their district title, and they will be in a good position to do so with a plethora of returning starters. Coach Hickman said, “We will be back strong in 2016, but some of our juniors are going to have to carry the torch and grow up a lot in the off-season. We have 5-6 starters back on offense and 5-6 back defensively which is the most we’ve had in a while on both sides of the ball. The majority of our defensive and offensive line is coming back so that’s very encouraging. Also, Jacob returning at QB is huge from a leadership standpoint and offensively. We need to gain some size and strength during the off-season months and I know Coach Weeks will get these guys going in the right direction starting in January. As of now, our kids need a break until the new year and then we will start gearing up for 2016.”
The 2015 Jesuit Rangers’ season will go down in the record books as the year the Rangers went undefeated in district and finally knocked off Skyline, along with so many other great memories.
Congratulations to all the coaches and all the players on a terrific, memorable season.
