The Rangers entered enemy territory on Friday night, travelling to Lake Highlands on their Homecoming night to emerge victorious over the Wildcats with their third straight 50-plus point and fifth straight 40-plus point performance.
Jesuit (5-3, 5-0) continued to dominate UIL district 9-6A, locking up a playoff spot with the victory over Lake Highlands (2-6, 2-3) and putting them within one win of the district title.
The Ranger offense, as Coach Brandon Hickman said, “wanted to get off to a good start [so we] decided to run the double pass play to open the game.” The play worked beautifully, as wide receiver John Wunderlick ‘17 caught a screen from quarterback Jacob Palisch ‘17, before hurling a pass back across the field to wideout Fletcher Rosenbleeth ‘18 for a 56-yard touchdown.
Rosenbleeth said of the trick play to start the game, “[it] was a total surprise to all of the players when Coach Hickman called it,” and that the early score “launched us forward offensively, [as well as] energetically as a team.”
The Wildcats responded, completing a 7-play, 81-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown rush to tie the game at 7-7. Emphasizing the rushing attack, the Rangers rode their senior runners to a second score, capped by halfback Evan Jackson’s ‘17 11-yard touchdown that followed a 39-yard breakaway by Wunderlick.
The teams traded fruitless possessions, as Lake Highlands’ drive stalled due to two 15-yard penalties and the Rangers were unable to get anything going from inside their own 15-yard line. Starting with excellent field position in Jesuit territory, Wildcats’ star running back Jordan Sutton broke free for a 38-yard rush before scoring from 13-yards out to tie the game at 14-14.
On the Rangers’ next drive, Jackson converted a third down with a big 16-yard run before receiver Jack Tabor ‘18 caught a short pass and, with the help of a devastating stiff arm, ran it 52 yards for a touchdown.
As the second quarter started, the Ranger defense began to adjust to Lake Highlands’ rushing attack, stopping them on a fourth-and-one for a turnover on downs. The Rangers capitalized, as Wunderlick punched it in from the one to cap an 8-play, 61-yard drive and take a two score lead. A missed field goal by the Wildcats and a Ranger incompletion on 4th down ended the quarter with the Rangers leading 28-14.
Hickman said on halftime adjustments, “we moved our defensive line some to adjust to their run game which was a great job by our defensive coaches.” He continued, “our line started getting great push up front and closing off their running lanes.”
“Once we figured out the specific plays they were running and how they were blocking it, we knew what we needed to do defensively to be effective against the run,” said linebacker Matt Eubanks ‘17. “Once we made the proper adjustments, we were able to completely shut down their run game.”
The defense’s adjustments immediately proved effective as they forced a Lake Highlands three-and-out to begin the third. After a 39-yard punt return by Alekzander McGlone ‘18, the Rangers put together another touchdown drive as Wunderlick scored his second touchdown from one yard out.
The Rangers again held Lake Highlands silent, limiting the Wildcats to 34 yards on 10 plays and forcing a turnover on downs at the 35-yard line. After a brief scare when Wunderlick recovered his own fumble, Palisch completed a pass over the middle to Connor Jackson ‘17 before scampering 19 yards for a touchdown. Palisch, however, tweaked his knee on the play, which, combined with a large Ranger lead, kept him out for the remainder of the game.
The defense forced another three-and-out, forcing Lake Highlands to punt from their own 15, which Pierce Strong ‘19 returned for a touchdown. Down 49-14, Lake Highlands put together a methodical 14-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown, but, while it reduced the deficit, it also took 5:41 off the clock, putting the game out of reach.
The Rangers’ next possession featured a 73-yard breakaway by Hank Clements ‘18 who lost multiple defenders with a spin move en route to sealing the game at 56-21 with the team’s 5th rushing touchdown.
After the game, Rosenbleeth commented on the balance of the offense, saying, “the success of running the football truly sets the foundation for the rest of the offense. When we succeed in the run game teams usually tend to anticipate the run, allowing for us to add in some of our pass plays.”
The win came against a Lake Highlands Homecoming crowd, which Rosenbleeth said contributed to “added motivation knowing they scheduled us for their homecoming.” He continued, “We began to obtain the mindset, ‘you don’t schedule the Jesuit Rangers to play against for your homecoming,’” a point which the Rangers drove home with the strong victory.
On the defensive side, Eubanks remarked “although it was a great victory, we started off slow and gave up two touchdowns in the first quarter.” “Going forward, he said “we need to work on starting strong from the very first play, rather than waiting until the second half to get going.”
“The biggest takeaway was we played really well in all three phases and our teams energy was really solid all game,” Hickman said of the win. “I feel like we have a lot of momentum heading into the last two weeks of district play.”
The Rangers will look to clinch the district title in the “Battle for the Saddle” as they travel to W.T. White Friday at 7:30.
