The Blue Jays closed out the regular season with one of their biggest victories of the year, defeating No. 2-ranked Karr 40–19 in their final District 9-5A matchup. Facing one of Louisiana’s top football programs, the Jays overcame a nine-point halftime deficit and scored 30 unanswered points in the second half to secure the win. The victory improves the Jays’ overall record to 8–2 and secures a first-round playoff bye as the team begins its pursuit of a state championship appearance in the Caesars Superdome.

Junior running back Michael Cerruti led the offensive effort with 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while senior Jack Maguire recorded two interceptions, including a 53-yard return for a touchdown that capped an impressive defensive performance. The Jays’ offensive line helped establish a strong ground game, while the defense forced multiple turnovers and held the Cougars scoreless throughout the second half.

Karr struck first, taking a 7–0 lead in the opening quarter. Jesuit answered early in the second with a touchdown pass to even the score, but the Cougars responded with two more touchdowns to extend their lead to 19–7. Sophomore Matthew Jackel connected on a 47-yard field goal as the first half came to a close, cutting the deficit to 19–10. The Jays returned to the field with renewed momentum, establishing their rushing attack behind a strong offensive line while the defense held Karr scoreless for the remainder of the game.

After forcing a Karr punt to open the third quarter, the Blue Jays moved downfield behind a series of successful rushing plays. Cerruti found the end zone to bring Jesuit within two points, 19–17. On Karr’s ensuing possession, Maguire intercepted a pass to give the Jays the ball at the Cougars’ 33-yard line. Jesuit capitalized on the turnover with another rushing touchdown, taking its first lead of the game, 23–19. The defense continued to limit Karr’s offensive opportunities, forcing a turnover on downs as the game moved into the fourth quarter.

The Jays extended their lead early in the final period when a long run brought the offense inside the five-yard line, setting up another rushing touchdown. Jesuit’s defense created another scoring opportunity moments later, recovering a Karr fumble at the Cougars’ 15-yard line. The Jays converted the turnover into a field goal to push the advantage to 33–19. Maguire then added the final scoring play of the night, intercepting another Karr pass and returning it 53 yards for a touchdown to seal the 40–19 victory.

Cerruti’s 218-yard performance followed another impressive rushing effort against Rummel the previous week, continuing a strong stretch for the junior running back.

Check back for more information about the Blue Jays’ first postseason playoff game.