The Jesuit football team, in a rare Thursday night game, routed the Sunset Bison in the final regular season game of the season in a chilly John E. Kincaide Stadium.
The Rangers went into the November 3, 2011, matchup with a playoff spot secured for next week, so starters came out of the game early to avoid untimely injuries. The secured spot gave the Rangers’ backups some much deserved playing time.
Jesuit opened the game by returning the kickoff to their own 41-yard line. The first drive took only 4 plays, as QB Brian Buell ’12 orchestrated a beautiful 59-yard march down the field. Buell completed 2 passes on the drive, including an 18-yard toss to WR Austin Lock ’12 for the evening’s first touchdown. Only a minute in to the contest, Jesuit led 7-0.
The most noteworthy aspect of Jesuit’s win was its defense. Jesuit, with one of the state’s most prolific offenses, has made strives in building an equally dominant defensive unit.
On Sunset’s first drive, Jesuit stopped the Bison on three plays and forced a punt.
Buell led the Rangers on yet another quick drive early in the first quarter. After completing 2 passes to WR Jake Oliver ’13, Buell handed the ball off to RB Garrett Van de Ven ’13 who used a few sharp moves to get to the endzone. After 7 offensive snaps, Jesuit led 14-0.
Jesuit’s defense forced the first turnover of the night deep in Sunset territory, recovering a fumble on the 32-yard line.
Buell used one snap to hookup with Oliver for a score, putting Oliver one touchdown shy of 20 on the season.
Coach Paul Maturi’s defense continued to shine as it stopped Sunset on third-and-18 and allowed only a 3-yard punt.
The next drive, highlighted by a RB Christian Franz ’12 rush and a WR Ryan Grant ’12 catch, ended with Jake Oliver catching a 3-yard pass in Sunset’s endzone.
With the Rangers carrying a comfortable 37-0 lead at the half, Coach Brandon Hickman decided to take his starters out and use second-string players the rest of the evening.
Sunset opened the 3rd Quarter with a nine-play drive. QB Miguel Morales completed a 22-yard pass to WR Carlos Aguirre and pounded in a 1-yard rush to score Sunset’s first points of the night. After the Bison’s two-point conversion failed, the score stood 37-6.
QB Joe Willie Laufenberg ’13 brought the Rangers on the field in the third quarter. Laufenberg repeatedly handed the ball off, throwing only one pass on the possession. Sunset stopped the Rangers on third down, and Jesuit punted the ball away.
At the end of the 3rd Quarter, Sunset’s Morales fumbled the ball on the Jesuit 43-yard line and lost the ball.
The Rangers continued to let the clock run, using 10 plays spanning 7 minutes. K Sean Badger ’14 closed out the drive with his second field goal of the night from 40 yards out.
On Sunset’s last drive of the game, the Bison capitalized on catches by WR Jalen Matthews and WR Simon Ochoa to get into the endzone. Sunset once again failed to convert the two-point conversion.
On the last play of the game, Laufenberg handed the ball off to LS Jordan Tobolka ’13 to run the clock out. The final score was Jesuit 40 – Sunset 12.
By scoring on all six of its first half possessions, Jesuit was able to put points on the board at ease, taking advantage of all of Sunset’s turnovers.
Buell completed 10 of his 11 passes for 4 touchdowns, two of which went to Jake Oliver. Will Brown ’13 led the way on the ground, with 15 carries for 74 yards.
The Rangers defense recovered a season-best 3 fumbles, while only allowing 208 total yards.
“Because the offense prepared well in practice,” SS Luke Olinger ’12 remarked after the game, “they were able to score at ease against the Bison.” As has become the norm for the Rangers, a strong offensive showing propelled the team to victory.
Regarding the defense forcing so many turnovers and basically shutting down Sunset, Olinger stated simply: “It felt pretty good. The coaches harp on us about peaking into the playoffs and that’s what we are aiming for.”
This week, on Friday, November 11, the Rangers will face the Sachse Mustangs in the first round of 5A-II Playoffs.
“Being guaranteed one more game in a Jesuit uniform stinks,” says Olinger. “But you have to realize that when you become a senior, any game may be your last. You just have to make the most of each game, striving to play one more until that final game in December.”
At the pace that they’re going, the Rangers look to be the team to beat in the playoffs.
Come out and support the team in the first round of the playoffs against Sachse this Friday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium.
