Football Opens 3-0, Ready to Face Rigorous District Gauntlet
The football team is back in action, opening the season with a promising 3-0 start. The team demonstrates confidence and commitment, improving with experience each week. Despite graduating veteran players, the defense has pulled together a strong front, while the offense begins to gel. The season preparations are propelling the group as it gears up for Catholic League district play in what is always a gauntlet of fierce competition.
Jesuit Dallas
After a two-hour lightning delay, the odds of playing the brotherly matchup against Jesuit Dallas on Friday, September 5, seemed slim. Fans spent time huddled in safe areas to avoid potential storm threats until the skies cleared, allowing for Friday night football under the Texas lights at Ranger Field.
An early interception set a bleak tone when the Rangers returned a pick 14 yards for a touchdown, giving the home team a 6–0 lead after its two-point rush attempt failed. The Blue Jays took charge late in the first quarter when quarterback senior Taylor Norton connected with junior Ja’ir Burks on a 22-yard scoring pass. Senior Ethan Cabos scored the extra point to cap an 80-yard drive and put Jesuit ahead, 7–6. The explosiveness of Burks was on full display, as he hauled in three catches for a whopping 124 yards.
Early in the second quarter, Cabos added a 29-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10–6. Midway through the period, Norton finished a six-play, 55-yard march with a four-yard run to score, and Cabos’s kick made it 17–6.
The defense then began to solidify their efforts will when senior Beau Matulewski intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. On the next possession sophomore McKinley Perry took an interception 42 yards the other way. Cabos converted both extra points, stretching the lead to 31–6. The Blue Jays’ stout defensive front held the Rangers to just 15 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
With lightning again threatening the area as teams prepared to take the field for the second half, officials called the game at halftime. The win marked the football team’s first victory on the road and demonstrated a balanced effort on offense, defense, and special teams.
“I’m proud of the effort displayed weekly and how this team is committed to each other.” – head coach Ryan Manale
E.D. White
On Friday, September 12, the Blue Jays faced E.D. White in their first home game of the season. The Gizzard showed its support by donning blue a “Blue Out” at Tad Gormley Stadium, rallying behind the Blue Jays as they aimed to preserve their undefeated record.
Similar to the previous game against Dallas, the Blue Jays allowed a scoop-and-score touchdown on E.D. White’s first offensive possession, giving the visitors an early 7-0 lead. However, the Blue Jays quickly responded when senior quarterback Taylor Norton connected with sophomore receiver Benjamin Neff for a 14-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Late in the first half, senior kicker Ethan Cabos added a 29-yard field goal, narrowing E.D. White’s lead to 13-10 and giving the Blue Jays momentum heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, senior running back Gavin Palmisano gave Jesuit its first lead with a 14-yard touchdown run at 4:41, making the score 17-13. The defense stepped up late in the quarter, with junior linebacker Christian Hebert recovering a fumble in the red zone as the Cardinals threatened to retake the lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Palmisano extended the lead with a 31-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 24-13 with 5:21 remaining. Though E.D. White quickly answered with a 67-yard touchdown pass, the Jesuit defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs to secure a 24-21 victory.
Manale praised the team, emphasizing the importance of growth through adversity, accountability, and discipline as the team strives to become the best version of themselves on and off the field.
The Blue Jays return to play at Joe Yenni Stadium tonight, Friday, September 19, for a non-district matchup against Bonnabel. Follow the football team’s 2025-2026 season here for the roster, schedule, and to purchase gameday tickets.
Listen to Coach Manale talk about the team this week at the GNO QB Club courtesy Crescent City Sports.