Jesuit Thrashes Holy Cross in a Rambunctious Rumpus of a Rivalry

Posted October 11, 2014 / Last updated October 14, 2014

Jays Display Dazzling Offense and Stingy Defense Schemes in Besting Holy Cross, 56-14

Jesuit quarterback Trey LaForge (11) dives into the end zone to score the Jays’ fifth touchdown of the first half against Holy Cross in Friday night’s Great American Rivalry game. Tight end Foster Moreau leaps over LaForge while wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (17) tries to shake off a Tiger defender who the ref thought was holding, hence the flag coming in at left. LaForge was named the game’s MVP and Sportsnola.com recognized him as the “Metro Player of the Week.”

View the 61 Images in the Jesuit – Holy Cross Great American Rivalry Photo Gallery

It wasn’t even close this 95th football game featuring Jesuit and its crosstown rival Holy Cross.

Once again, the Jays started strong, gathering the opening kickoff Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium and methodically marching down the field. The Blue Jays presented an offensive kaleidoscope that kept the Tigers dazed and confused, on the prowl.

At the end of the first quarter, the Jays were up by two touchdowns, 14-0. In the second quarter, Jesuit had just about shocked everyone, including their own fans, by scoring three TDs, giving the Jays a commanding 35-0 lead heading into the locker room.

While Holy Cross scored twice in the second half, the Jays tallied three additional touchdowns.

Here is how Jesuit scored:

The game was four minutes old when senior running back Charles Jackson burst through the line and darted into the end zone from 18 yards out for Jesuit’s first touchdown, which was also the first of three he would eventually score.

Michael McMahon was having a fantastic game until he sustained a serious ankle injury.

Junior wide receiver Malachi Hull caught a short Trey LaForge pass around mid-field and after covering about five yards, he fumbled. As fate would have it, the ball bounced back in his arms and this time, he made it to the end zone.

In the second quarter, fullback Hunt Robert took a handoff from Trey LaForge and dashed up the middle for a 30-yard touchdown.

Wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb caught a 30-yard pass in the end zone for the Jays’ fourth TD.

The fifth touchdown came as time expired in the first half. Quarterback LaForge rolled left and sprinted 11 yards, diving into the end zone from the two-yard line and taking a monstrous hit in the process.

In the second half, Charles Jackson scored twice on runs of four yards and 23 yards. The final TD was tallied by reserve quarterback Peter Hontas, who sneaked into the end zone from the one. Crew Jacobs hit seven PATs and Christopher Freibert kicked the final one.

News media covering the game voted Jesuit quarterback Trey LaForge as this year’s Most Valuable Player. In addition to running for a TD, LaForge completed 14 of 18 passes for 236 yards. Two of his passes were for touchdowns.

“We had a great week of preparation,” LaForge said after the game. “It all goes back to the offensive line which has lots of experience. We’re as good as we want to be.”

Unfortunately, the Jays lost their second senior for the remainder of the season. Moments after the stadium announcer informed the crowd that fullback Michael McMahon was the winner of a scholar-athlete scholarship, the senior sustained a serious ankle injury and was helped off the field by Jesuit’s athletic trainers. (The other senior still on crutches is Shawn Walsh, who dislocated his ankle in the Jesuit – St. Paul’s game.)

Jesuit has a 55-38-1 record playing Holy Cross. With Friday’s win, the Golden Football trophy moves back to Carrollton and Banks. It had been on display at Holy Cross during the past year by virtue of the Tigers’ 16-13 win last season.

Nola.com: Jesuit explodes for eight touchdowns in routing rival Holy Cross, 56-14

Galleries

Football vs. Holy Cross, Rivalry Game, Oct. 10, 2014

Sophomore running back Connor Prouet sees an opening and heads for the pasture....
On the Holy Cross 30-yard line, Trey Laforge drops back and throws to Kalija Lipscomb in the end zone. A fierce battle for the ball ensues in mid-air...
... and Lipscomb prevails, holding on to the ball for the Jays' fourth touchdown. (This photo by Rob Brocato of the Clarion-Herald.)
Chris Mills has an opening but it appears that he's about ready to stiff-arm the referee directly in front of him. The ref was able to get out of the way.
Jesuit quarterback Trey LaForge (11) dives into the end zone to score the Jays' fifth touchdown...
... Tight end Foster Moreau leaps over LaForge while wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (17) tries to shake off a Tiger defender who the ref thought was holding, hence the flag coming in at left...
The collision in the end zone sounded worse than it was but LaForge and Moreau quickly shook it off. End of the half with Jesuit ahead 35-0.
Linebacker Jonathan Giardina (43) and Harrison Daste (39), in concert with Osman Torres (91) and Robert Lobrano (55), form a roadblock for this Tiger.
Osman Torres (91) and Justin Helm run down this Tiger ball carrier.
Ron Brocato of the Clarion-Herald snapped this photo of a leaping Charles Jackson.
Charles Jackson gets the call and he loves nothing more than some space to run. That's Kalija Lipscomb in front making life difficult for the Tiger defender.
Corey Dublin lifts Charles Jackson after his second score of the game.
With Trey LaForge taking a well-deserved break, reserve quarterback Peter Hontas shows his stuff in the open field.
Crew Jacobs punts for the Jays with a Tiger bearing down hard on him...
... Jacobs gets the punt off but the Tiger runs head-on into him...
... Jacobs takes a big hit but is OK. The Tigers realize that flag means the Jays have a first and 10.
Linebacker Mitchell Melito (38) is joined by a host of Jays in stopping this Tiger.
... Prouet is dragged down after picking up 30 yards.
Peter Hontas sneaks across the goal from one yard out for the Jays' final score. He turns to his offensive line and thanks them.
With sophomore quarterback Denny McGinnis holding, freshman kicker Chris Freibert sends the extra point through.
The Jesuit Cheerleaders have good reasons to dance with the score 56-14.
Blue Jay running backs Malcolm Ben, Chris Mills, and Charles Jackson.
The nearly three-hour game ends shortly after 10 p.m. with the two teams meeting on the field.
Tim Falter '02, who is an assistant coach for the offense, is proud of running backs Charles Jackson and Chris Mills.
Cornerback Dillon Knight (28), Trey LaForge, and Hunt Robert line up for the post-game ceremony. LaForge is selected by media covering the game as the MVP.
Jesuit athletic director accepts the Most Valuable Player Award on behalf of Trey LaForge, who is also Sportsnola.com's "Metro Player of the Week."
Head coach Mark Songy accepts the Great American Rivalry Series' championship trophy.
Dave Moreau accepts congratulations, along with the Golden Football Trophy, from Holy Cross athletic director Barry Wilson.
The Alma Mater is sung by Jandon Briscoe (3) and his fellow players.
The Jays play Archbishop Shaw at Hoss Memstas Stadium this Saturday, October 18 with kick off at 2 p.m.
Jesuit reclaims the Golden Football Trophy after Holy Cross won it last year for the first time since its inauguration in 2006.
... and picks up another first down as the first quarter ends. The Jays are leading 14-0.
Trey LaForge's pass to wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb just misses.
Running back Charles Jackson runs off-tackle, then veers to the outside where he finds plenty of running room, but for this Tiger defender...
... But Jackson shows he's not easy to bring down...
... . Jackson slips this tackle and leaves the Tiger defender clutching... his left shoe.
There is no stopping Charles Jackson and the crowd senses it. The Tiger defenders are also stymied by Jackson's escorts, Malachi Hull on the left and Malcolm Ben (21).
Charles Jackson completes an 18-yard run for Jesuit's first touchdown. Jackson will score twice more in the second half.
Blue Jay fans cheer Jackson's TD run.
In this photo by Ron Brocato of the Clarion-Herald, wide receiver Malachi Hull catches a Trey LaForge pass, fumbles the ball, picks it up...
..., and dashes 40 yards for Jesuit's second TD of the game. (Photo by Kenny Martinez Photography)
Alex Rabalais, skirting end and picking up a first down, spots a couple of Tigers chasing him.
Senior fullback Michael McMahon takes a handoff from Trey LaForge...
... and in the blink of an eye, he's in the Tigers' secondary, picking up a first down and more.
Quarterback Trey LaForge takes the snap as Michael McMahon looks for a Tiger invasion.
When a play doesn't come together, LaForge scrambles...
The Jays start out on their 30-yard line and pick up a first down. Quarterback Trey LaForge drops back to pass but cannot find any of his receivers open, so he safely tucks the ball, and finds an opening. His run picks up another first down and the Jays are on the move past the 50-yard line.
At the end of the first quarter, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, represented by Benny Jones (middle), presents Scholar Athlete Awards to the principals of the two schools. Dr. Joseph Murry (left) is the principal of Holy Cross. Jesuit principal Peter Kernion '90 accepts the award on behalf of senior letterman Michael McMahon.
On the first play following the announcement that Michael McMahon is the recipient of a Scholar Athlete Award, the senior letterman sustains a serious ankle injury at the end of another long jaunt. McMahon is helped off the field by athletic trainers Kenny Trahan (left) and Mike Guillory. McMahon will be on the sideline for the rest of the season, while his heart will always be in the huddle.
The student section becomes somber when they see Michael McMahon being helped off the field.
Malcolm Ben holds on to the ball despite this Tiger's attempt to strip him of it.
Hunt Robert, playing in the fullback position when he's not on the defensive line, is given the ball on the Holy Cross 30-yard line. Robert bowls over one Tiger whose helmet comes loose...
... and he's on his way to the end zone, scoring Jesuit's third TD.
With a three TD lead, the Jays in the stands go wild.
Crew Jacobs was perfect on the PATs. He kicks 7 of 7, and on this PAT, he's roughed up, a penalty which sets the Tigers back on the kickoff.
Entertaining the crowd and having fun doing it - these are the Jesuit Cheerleaders.
Defensive end Osman Torres unleashes his wrecking ball on this play, taking down the Tiger quarterback for a loss.
Middle lineback Robert Lobrano (55) has this Tiger wrapped up, well almost. With Osman Torres coming up fast, the runner doesn't get very far.
Defensive end Zack Robert stops this Tiger in his tracks for a loss on the play.
Senior running back Chris Mills runs wide and picks up a first down.
Trey LaForge lofts a pass to Foster Moreau who just misses pulling it in.