2006 - 2007 Jesuit Football


Blue Jays Put Practice Drills Aside for Live Play at Blue and White Scrimmage


Great defense after the reception for the blue squad leads to this fumble on white.

The Jesuit football squad scrimmaged Wednesday afternoon in the annual Blue and White game at the Tad Gormley Practice Field. The Jesuit coaches and football fans got a close look at the Jays in action.

The team will have another scrimmage against the Shaw Eagles next Wednesday, May 16 at the Tulane University practice field. The scrimmage is slated to begin at 5:30 PM.

View the photo gallery from the Blue and White Scrimmage.

Blue Jays Selected 2007 Football Scholar-Athletes


Congratulations to seniors Will Baay (left) and James Barrios for their selection
by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation
and College Hall of Fame as 2007 Scholar-Athletes. Will and James
will be recognized at the annual Scholar-Athlete Award Luncheon in April.


Senior Theo Smith Signs Letter of Intent with the
University of Louisiana, Monroe


Surrounded by his family and Jesuit administrators in St. Ignatius Hall,
senior Theo Smith signed his letter of intent with the University of Louisiana, Monroe this afternoon. Theo was a standout linebacker for the Jays this year, and
he was named to the All-District 8-5A Team in 2004 and 2006. 

Jesuit Alumnus Wayde Keiser '78 Named Head Football Coach

Jesuit graduate Wayde Keiser '78 has been named the Blue Jays’ head football coach, becoming the first alumnus in more than 35 years to lead the school’s gridiron program.

Keiser introduced himself to Blue Jay football players on Thursday afternoon, reminding them that winning requires work, discipline, loyalty, and commitment.

Keiser replaces Coach Sid Edwards, who resigned his head coaching position in December for personal and family reasons, according to athletic director Frank Misuraca.


“Wayde brings a rich background of football knowledge and experience to our program, and he is also personally connected to Jesuit which makes his hiring even more meaningful to our community,” said Misuraca.

 

Keiser, an alumnus of the Class of 1978, is also a parent of a former Blue Jay – his oldest son graduated in 2004. Keiser played football at Jesuit and was the starting center for the Blue Jays in his senior year.

 

Keiser has coached football and other sports for more than 25 years at several Catholic and public schools, including a brief stint at Jesuit, where he was an assistant football coach in charge of the defensive line in 1988. Keiser becomes the first Blue Jay alumnus to take the reins of Jesuit’s football program since Ray Coates (Class of 1940) ended six years as head coach in 1971.

 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to return to coaching and teaching at my Alma Mater, and I look forward to continuing the deep traditions of Jesuit,” said Keiser. “I feel that coaching is an extension of the classroom and that coaches should teach student athletes discipline, dedication, commitment, loyalty, and responsibility.”

 

Keiser has coached at Brother Martin High School, East St. John High School, St. Charles Catholic (LaPlace), Vermilion Catholic High School (Abbeville), Teurlings High School (Lafayette), and Vandebilt Catholic High School (Houma). Most recently, he was head football coach for three years at Brother Martin.

 

He has served as a past president of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) and is a former member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s (LHSAA) Executive Committee.

 

Keiser and his wife, Leah, have three children and make their home in Metairie.

Brief Bio of Wayde Keiser


Head football coach Wayde Keiser sports a Jesuit cap, given to him by principal Michael Giambelluca, to officially welcome him to Carrollton & Banks. In the photo above, Coach Keiser shakes hands with a Blue Jay following his introductory meeting with players.

 


Jesuit Announces Resignation of Coach Sid Edwards


At the end of each game, win or lose, Coach Sid Edwards led Blue Jays in prayer.

 

Statement of Coach Sid Edwards

 

“I would like to thank the entire Jesuit community and family for a most blessed experience and year. I have been both honored and humbled to serve as head football coach at one of the most spiritual and amazing institutions there is.

 

“I witnessed a most inspiring comeback, not only at Jesuit, but also the entire spirited community of New Orleans. The young men of Jesuit are truly champions and, most importantly, champions for others. I am a better man for having been a small part.

 

“Eventually I will be heading back home. All our family resides in the Baton Rouge area and we most certainly missed their support, especially with our two special boys.

 

“The Ignatian principles I learned, as well as the many fine people I encountered at Jesuit, will be with me forever. I only hope that I was able to contribute to the lives of these young men in some small way.”

 

 

 

Coach Sid Edwards resigned Monday, December 11, 2006 as head football coach at Jesuit High School, citing personal reasons that have made living and working in New Orleans difficult for him and his family. Coach Edwards’s immediate plans are to stay in the New Orleans area and remain a member of Jesuit’s faculty, teaching physical education, until the end of the current school year.  

 

Jesuit has already begun a search for a new head football coach, according to acting athletic director David Moreau.

 

“We are sorry Coach Edwards is leaving as his coaching philosophy, demeanor, and temperament on and off the field were in tune with Jesuit’s mission, but we understand and respect his decision that his family comes first,” said Moreau. “Even though he coached only one season, Coach Edwards had formed a unique bond with Jesuit’s players. He is well-liked and will be missed, and everyone connected with our football program, especially the team, wish him well in his future coaching endeavors.”

 

Coach Edwards informed his assistants of his decision early Monday afternoon and then addressed the entire Blue Jay football team after school.   

 

Coach Edwards thanked the entire Jesuit community and described the season as a “blessed experience,” adding that he has been “honored and humbled to serve as head football coach at one of the most spiritual and amazing institutions there is. The young men of Jesuit are truly champions and, most importantly, champions for others. I am a better man for having been a small part.

 

“Eventually I will be heading back home,” said Coach Edwards. “All our family resides in the Baton Rouge area and we most certainly missed their support, especially with our two special boys.

 

“The Ignatian principles I learned, as well as the many fine people I encountered at Jesuit, will be with me forever,” he concluded. “I only hope that I was able to contribute to the lives of these young men in some small way.”

 

Coach Edwards took over the helm of Blue Jay football only nine months ago when former Coach Vic Eumont moved to California to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Coach Sid Edwards Game Gallery

 

Week Ten: Jesuit Takes Themselves Out of Playoffs by Falling Hard on Crusaders' Sword; Bitter Loss Ends Jesuit's Season


In single file with heads bowed, a dejected Blue Jay team exits
Tad Gormley Stadium following Friday’s disappointing loss to Brother Martin. 

(The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com.)

Crusaders Top Jesuit

Macaluso's field goal helps Brother Martin nab bragging rights

Saturday, November 04, 2006

By Michael Arvites

For Brother Martin coach Jay Pittman, the Crusaders' 13-10 victory over Catholic League (District 8-5A) rival Jesuit was something special.

"It's not about me it's about my kids," said Pittman, who used to coach at Jesuit. "This is a great football rivalry, and both schools have class, and it's a shame that someone has to lose."

Brother Martin took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard Anthony Macaluso field goal.

"He was a soccer guy," said Pittman "He has come out in his first year and really helped us."

On its first possession, Brother Martin drove 58 yards in 13 plays, culminating with a 28-yard field goal by Macaluso.

Jesuit tied the score six plays later after a 31-yard Will Just field goal.

Brother Martin controlled the line of scrimmage in the first half, as Phil Ancar ran for 61 first half yards.

"This was a big game because this is the biggest rivalry in the Catholic League," said Ancar. "We came out and played hard we just did it for the seniors."

Ancar finished with 110 yards rushing.

"I ran hard," said Ancar. "I wanted the seniors to go out with a bang. It took me ,the line, and everyone; this was a team win."

Brother Martin's defense forced two second quarter turnovers, both inside its 20-yard line, stopping two long Jesuit drives.

Jesuit's defense also came up big in the second quarter as junior defensive back Scott Cronin snared a key interception at the Jesuit 38-yard line.

Midway through the second quarter, Jesuit defensive back Dan Devun made two consecutive touchdown saving tackles, one on a reverse and the other on Ancar in the open field.

On the opening kick off of the second half, Jesuit forced a Brother Martin fumble as three Blue Jay defenders launched into the Brother Martin returner to jar the ball lose.

Four plays later, sophomore running back Payten Jason broke free for 20-yard touchdown run.

After an exchange of punts, Brother Martin quarterback Garett Bean completed a 52-yard pass to senior Alexander Lair to put the Crusaders inside the Jesuit 10-yard line.

Two plays later, it was the Bean-Lair connection again, this time for a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 10.

On the ensuing kick off, Jason was run down by Macaluso, ending what would have been a 91-yard touchdown at the 10-yard line.

"We said this game was for our seniors and again a senior made a play," Pittman said

The Crusaders caused two turnovers and held Jesuit to less then 100 total yards.

"We finally put a full game together," Pittman said. "We said it might be the last game for our seniors and our boys played like they had nothing to lose."


Jesuit quarterback Danny Zimmermann, whose promising senior year
abruptly ended with a knee injury at the beginning of the season,
takes one last look at Tad Gormley Stadium near the spot
where he scored a touchdown as a sophomore.

Week Nine: Blue Jays Flat in Loss to McDonogh


Junior safety Scott Cronin (33) intercepts a Roneagle pass
and runs it back 20-plus yards. 

(This article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com.)

 

Roneagles surge past Blue Jays

Big second-half plays provide difference in defensive game

Saturday, October 28, 2006
By Doug Moreau

In a game that had playoff implications for both teams, McDonogh 35 kept its possibility for a home game alive by defeating Jesuit 20-9 on Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.

"We should be ranked 14th or 15th, and if we finish there, we'll have a home game," Roneagles Coach Wayne Reese said.

McDonogh 35 had less than half the amount of offensive plays in the second half than Jesuit, but the Roneagles outscored the Blue Jays 13-0. McDonogh 35 ran 14 plays compared to 32 by Jesuit in the last two quarters.

"Anyway we can take it," Reese said. "Jesuit didn't give us anything, but we had those two big plays."

Trailing 9-7 at halftime, McDonogh 35 scored on its first possession of the second half when Eric St. Amand completed a 36-yard slant over the middle to Cornell Howard for a touchdown. Stanley Benion kick the extra point for a 14-9 edge. The drive started when Joseph Bevinetto's punt got caught in a headwind and went 1 yard.

The Roneagles then took advantage of fumble recovery that ended a 12-play series on their 29. On third down, St. Amand passed to Lionel Breaux for a 77-yard touchdown to complete the scoring.

"Our defense played good, solid football tonight," Reese said. "They held Jesuit intact."

On Jesuit's next series, the Roneagles' Robert Hammond intercepted Troy Mathews in the end zone. From that point, McDonogh 35 nearly ran the clock out.

Defense also played key roles for both teams in the first half, as neither topped 100 yards total offense. The Blue Jays had 63 yards -- 68 rushing -- and the Roneagles gained 93 yards but had three turnovers.

Jesuit opened the scoring after Scoot Cronin recovered a fumble by Alfred Reese at the Roneagle's 34. The Blue Jays put together a six-play drive that ended when Mathews faked an inside handoff and ran for a 4-yard touchdown sweep. But an errant snap left Jesuit without the extra point.

The Jesuit defense held McDonogh 35 without a first down on the next series, and Jesuit tackled punter Benion for a loss. The Blue Jays took possession at McDonogh 35's 19 and got a 35-yard field goal by Will Just for a 9-0 lead.

Cronin put an end to the Roneagles' third series when he intercepted St. Amand at Jesuit's 2 and returned it 22 yards. The Blue Jays, however, were unable to get the punt away, and McDonogh 35 gained possession at Jesuit's 18.

Reese started the three-play scoring drive with a 3-yard run, and Benion put the Roneagles on Jesuit's 9 with a 6-yard carry. Reese stretched the ball over the goal line for a 9-yard touchdown run, and Benion pulled McDonogh 35 to two points of the lead with the extra-point kick.


Senior fullback James Barrios (20) scampers up the middle with blocking provided by senior linemen Matt DeGenova (78), Dom Darensburg (68), and Blake Nichols (76). Barrios, an effective bulldozer on offense, reinjured his knee on this play and will not play in Friday’s regular season finale against Brother Martin.

Week Eight: Blue Jays Rebound for Homecoming Game and Handily Defeat Purple Knights, 42-7


Sophomore running back Payten Jason scored three times
against the Purple Knights.

(The article below is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com.)

Jesuit has little trouble with Knights
Jason scores three times in Blue Jays rout of St. Augustine
Sunday, October 22, 2006
By Doug Moreau

Early evening rain dampened Jesuit's homecoming, but the Blue Jays encountered no problem with St. Augustine en route to a 42-7 District 8-5A win at Tad Gormley Stadium.

"We had a beautiful day with the alumni coming back, and we enjoyed some nice events for them," said Jesuit Coach Sid Edwards.

The Blue Jays used a solid ground attack, and their defense handled all of St. Aug's first-half threats. Gerald Brown led all rushers with 135 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Payten Jason carried 10 times for 98 yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Troy Mathews rushed for 98 yards and passed for 48 and a touchdown.

"St. Aug is very proficient at controlling the clock with their passing game, so we had to answer with the way we play and run the ball," Edwards said. "Our offensive line and our running backs did an excellent job of executing."

The Blue Jays (4-4, 2-1) scored on their first possession. Gerald Brown opened the drive with a 57-yard run that put Jesuit at the Purple Knights 9, and two plays later, Peyton Jason scored on an 8-yard carry through the middle.

Early in the second quarter, Jesuit claimed a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Troy Mathews gained 46 yards in the series, and James Barrios scored on 4-yard run off right tackle.

Jesuit's defense also contributed during the first half as they stopped the Purple Knights (1-7, 0-2) on four possessions inside Blue Jays territory. St. Aug's deepest penetration went to the Jesuit 7, but Dan Devun intercepted a Tahlako Williams pass in the right corner of the end zone.

"We stopped them when we had to," Edwards said. "That was clutch plays by the defense."

The Purple Knights put together an 11-play drive at the conclusion of the first half, but Williams, who completed 16 passes for 146 yards in the half, was sacked at the Blue Jays 15 by T.J. Faucheaux and Adam Hymel as time expired.

"We put together an outstanding third quarter," said Edwards of the Blue Jays' 28 points in the quarter.


Jason Richert (42), Stephen Abadie (49), and Mark Schellhaas (21)
swarm over a Purple Knight and help
to effectively bottle St. Aug’s running game.

Week Seven: In a Lackluster Performance, Jays Fall to Raiders, 31-7


Gerald Brown runs through a huge hole opened by the offensive line.

View Photo Gallery of Jesuit-Rummel Game.

(The article below is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com.)

Raiders seize district lead
Buisson, Johnson help spark win over Blue Jays
Sunday, October 15, 2006
By Pierce W. Huff

Rummel again established itself as the team to beat in the Catholic League, and in turn gave its standing-room-only homecoming crowd Saturday night something to cheer about.

Raiders quarterback Scott Buisson had 181 yards total offense and two touchdowns and running back Andrel Johnson rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown to lead Rummel to a 31-7 victory against Jesuit in a District 8-5A game.

Rummel (5-2, 2-0) is the only undefeated team in the Catholic League. The Raiders have won or shared the Catholic League title in six of the past seven seasons.

The victory also gave Rummel a 21-20 edge in the series against Jesuit. Rummel has won four of the past six meetings.

Buisson, a 6-foot, 165-pound senior, and Johnson, a 5-8, 165-pound junior, have been key players for Rummel's offense this season, which entered Saturday's game having scored 30 points or more in five games.

Rummel started scoring early against Jesuit, but it had to take advantage of a weird play to grab a 7-0 lead. Jesuit punter Beau Mothe, facing a strong headwind, kicked a ball that hung in the air and landed behind the punt coverage team for a minus-2 yard kick. Rummel senior Kevin Peters, who rushed Mothe on the kick, picked up the loose ball at the Jesuit 14-yard line, avoided a tackle by Mothe, and lumbered into the end zone for a touchdown.

Rummel used a more conventional method to score its second touchdown. The Raiders drove 72 yards in 16 plays, and used six minutes and 51 seconds. Buisson converted four third downs on the drive at distances of 18, 10, 1 and 12 yards. Johnson ended the possession with a 5-yard touchdown run off right tackle with 9:30 remaining in the first half.

Jesuit (3-4, 1-1) scored on a drive after a fumble by Rummel running back Jarrell Johnson at the Raiders' 21-yard line. Jesuit drove 21 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Blue Jays quarterback Troy Mathews kept the drive going with a 22-yard pass to receiver Rob Barrios on third-and-13 at the Raiders' 24-yard line. Running back James Barrios scored on a 1-yard touchdown run up the middle to make the score 14-7 with 4:04 remaining.

But Rummel responded with a two-play, 72-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession. Buisson scored the Raiders' third touchdown on a quarterback keeper when he started up the middle and scooted down the left sideline for a 65-yard run, which made the score 21-7 with 3:24 remaining in the first half.

Rummel increased its lead to 28-7 when it began the third quarter with a 14-play, 78-yard scoring drive that lasted 7:23. Buisson kept the drive going with a 6-yard run on third-and-5 at the Raiders' 38-yard line. He ended the possession with a 6-yard touchdown run around left end on a bootleg play.


Senior defensive tackle Adam Hymel (90) forces a Raider fumble in the first half.

Week Six: In 87th Meeting of Two Old Rivals, Blue Jays Tame Holy Cross Tigers, 21-7


Following their resounding victory over Holy Cross on Thursday evening,
jubilant Blue Jays celebrated in front of their fans at Tad Gormley Stadium.

View Photo Gallery of Jesuit-Holy Cross Game.

(The article below is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com.)

By Pierce Huff
Staff Writer

A motivational T-shirt backfired Thursday for Holy Cross in the continuation of the state's oldest high school football rivalry.

Some Holy Cross students came to their annual game against Jesuit wearing green camouflage T-shirts that read "OPEN SEASON BLUE JAY HUNTING" in bold orange letters.

But the Jesuit football team was not amused, and the Blue Jays got the last laugh with a 21-7 victory against Holy Cross in both team's Catholic League (District 8-5A) opener at Tad Gormley Stadium. (continued below)


In a new twist to an old rivalry, the winner of the annual meeting
between Jesuit and Holy Cross will keep this special trophy for a year.
Following their win, the Blue Jays accepted the trophy which reads:
“To the Players, Coaches, and Fans of Louisiana’s
Oldest Football Rivalry – Holy Cross vs. Jesuit.”

Jesuit running back Gerald Brown, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound senior, rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown. Running back Payten Jason, a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore, rushed for 51 yards. Running back James Barrios, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, rushed for 31 yards and two touchdowns.

"I saw that T-shirt, and I was thinking that Holy Cross was going to be in for a long night," Brown said.

Jesuit defensive lineman Anthony Stovall said he laughed when he saw the Holy Cross T-shirts.

"I just said that they didn't know what they were going to be in for," Stovall said.

Jesuit leads the all-time series 50-36-1. The Blue Jays have won six of the past 10 games. Thursday's game was Jesuit's first victory against Holy Cross since 2004, when the Blue Jays won 24-21.

Jesuit (3-3, 1-0) rushed for 151 yards in the first half and led 14-0 at halftime. Brown rushed for 81 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Jason rushed for 46 yards on seven carries. Barrios rushed for 22 yards and one touchdown on five carries.

The Blue Jays took the opening drive of the game and drove 80 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Jesuit converted three third downs on the drive, including a 2-yard touchdown run by Barrios on third-and-goal from the Holy Cross 2-yard line.

Jesuit took its third possession of the game and drove 91 yards on 10 running plays for a touchdown to increase its lead to 14-0 with 4:28 remaining in the first half. Brown finished the possession with a 4-yard touchdown run around left end.

"They did a great job of stuffing the ball down our throats," Holy Cross Coach Barry Wilson said.

Holy Cross (3-3, 0-1) had two chances to score in the final minutes of the first half, but came up short. The Tigers drove 17 yards in four plays to the Jesuit 33-yard line. But Holy Cross kicker Danny Hrapmann was short on a 50-yard field goal attempt with 2:51 remaining.

Jesuit increased its lead to 21-0 when Barrios scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Holy Cross scored when receiver Paul Lacassagne recovered a fumble in the end zone by Tigers running back Logan Rychaert with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

"All week long we practiced and prepared well," Jesuit quarterback Troy Mathews said. "We knew this was going to be a battle."

And Jesuit got the last laugh.

Week Five: Blue Jays Succumb in Another Nailbiter Overtime; Higgins Hurricanes Eke Out Win, 8-7

If a football fan enjoys a defensive struggle, the Jesuit-Higgins game
did not disappoint, except for the final outcome,
which was decided in overtime. For the second time this season,
the Jays came up short, 8-7.

In the photo above (courtesy of Ric Cusimano),
Jesuit’s defense stuffs a Hurricane runner. 

 
The Jesuit Blue Jays (2-3) and the L.W. Higgins Hurricanes (4-1) fought it out Friday night on the field at Hoss Memtsas Stadium. It took an overtime period before either team notched their first points on the scoreboard. Yet, when the dust settled at the end of the first overtime period, the Jays found themselves on the short end of an 8-7 score.

For the game, the Jays offensively totaled 148 yards, with 120 yards coming from the running attack. During the game, Jesuit’s deepest penetration into Hurricane territory was to the Higgins 42-yard line. Jesuit’s touchdown in overtime was a two-yard run from senior running back James Barrios.
 
Defensively, the Jays limited the Hurricanes to 129 yards and 10 first downs. During regulation play, the Hurricanes moved the ball as far as the Jesuit 18-yard line before Higgins fumbled the ball. The Hurricanes scored their overtime touchdown on the ground and then successfully made their two-point try.
 
Head Coach Sid Edwards expressed his pride in the Jays and his disappointment in the game's outcome, “They left it all on the field,” he said. “Our guys gutted it out and this is about as tough as it gets.”
 
But the Jays will not have much time to think about this game since they have a short week of preparation before they open district play Thursday night, October 5 against the Holy Cross Tigers (3-2) at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park.
Week Four: Jays Empty the Bench in Touchdown Fest Against Varnado Wildcats, 50-0


Junior defensive back Dan DeVun (23) recovers a fumble
and returns it 20 yards with help from senior Johnny Palmer (41),
senior strong safety Warren Emmett (17), and
sophomore defensive lineman Shane Delery (97).

The Blue Jays put on an impressive offensive and defensive show for their fans against the Varnado Wildcats Saturday afternoon, shutting out the Northshore-based team in a lopsided contest, 50-0.

The Jays racked up 415 yards in total offense and scored seven touchdowns in the process. Junior Troy Matthews (11) started at quarterback in place of injured senior Danny Zimmermann, who is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL sustained in the game against South Lafourche, scored twice on short runs.

Sophomore running back Payten Jason (5) galloped for big gains and scored on a 70-yard run. Senior fullback James Barrios (20) bulled his way across the goal three times and sophomore running back Chance Van Meter (29) scored once. Junior kicker Will Just (16) added five point-afters and senior Joseph Bevinetto (60) added the final one. A two-point conversion following Jesuit’s second touchdown was also successful.

The Jays were stingy on defense, holding the Wildcats to two first downs and total offense of only 37 yards, while forcing two fumbles and an interception. Senior linebacker Theo Smith (43) anchored the defense and was credited with four solo tackles, two assists, and a fumble recovery.


Junior QB Troy Mathews finds plenty of running room against Wildcats.

Week Three: Blue Jays Feast on Tarpons for Season's First Victory, 35-7


Sophomore running back Jason Payten (5) escapes a Tarpon.

View Photo Gallery of Jesuit-S. Lafourche Game.

With the weight of an 0-2 start hanging heavily on them, the Blue Jays took their game on the road against the S. Lafourche Tarpons in Galliano Friday evening.

By the time they boarded the buses to come home, the Jays were euphoric as they had just finished gaffing a boatload of Tarpons, 35-7, for their first win and Coach Sid Edwards’s first-ever win as head football coach.

Jesuit’s offensive line dynamited huge holes for senior running backs Gerald Brown and James Barrios and sophomore running back Payten Jason. The Jays amassed 302 yards in total offense, including 269 on the ground. The Blue Jay defense was nothing short of spectacularly stingy, refusing to allow S. Lafourche a single first down while holding the Tarps to minus-seven yards total offense.

The Tarps escaped a shutout late in the fourth quarter only when their defense scored on a 40-yard run after the ball was stripped from a Blue Jay runner.

Jason scored four times on runs of 35, 3, 15, and 4 yards, and senior quarterback Danny Zimmermann scored once on a 6-yard run. In the second half, Zimmermann hyper-extended his knee, which forced him to the sidelines where he watched his backups, sophomore quarterbacks Beau Mothe and Dan Long, continue the Jays’ offensive wave.

Week Two: In Overtime Mudfest Thriller, Jays Come Up Short Against Karr Cougars, 22-20

Jesuit QB Danny Zimmermann (7) hands off to running back Gerald Brown
who grinds out a few yards in the game against Karr.
The Jays were handed their second loss of the season
in a thrilling overtime struggle, 22-20.

It took three overtimes Saturday afternoon before a winner was finally declared; and when the mud and the grass had settled at Joe Yenni Stadium, the Jesuit Blue Jays found themselves on the short end of a 22-20 score against the Karr Cougars.

Offensively, the Jays scored in the first quarter on a seventy yard pass from senior quarterback Danny Zimmermann to junior receiver Troy Mathews. In the second quarter, senior fullback James Barrios scored the next Jesuit touchdown on a three yard run to put the Jays ahead at the half, 14-6. In the second half, Karr's defense stalled the Jesuit offense. The game ended in the third overtime when the Jays failed to convert a two point try.

Defensively, the Jays held the Cougars to 165 yards of total offense. In the second overtime, senior lineman Adam Hymel blocked a 25-yard Cougar field goal attempt to continue overtime play.


Even in defeat, Blue Jays hold their heads high while singing the Alma Mater.

Jesuit Names Sid Edwards as Head Coach
of Varsity Football

Coach Sid Edwards introduces himself for the first time
to the Blue Jay football team, asking questions of players
and explaining his coaching philosophy. In the photo above, 
Coach Edwards greets sophomore defensive lineman Shane Delery.

Sid Edwards, a coach, teacher, and father who is known not only for his knowledge and wisdom of the game but also his ability to instill spirit and zeal in his players, has been appointed Head Football Coach for the Jesuit Blue Jays.

Coach Edwards will join Jesuit’s faculty near the end of the current semester, in time to hold spring training for the 2006 Blue Jay team. He will complete his current teaching and coaching responsibilities at Central High in Baton Rouge. Edwards takes the place of Coach Vic Eumont who left Jesuit to coach and teach in California where his two grown daughters reside.

Read the entire article.

Read The Times-Picayune article.