Blue Jays Bask in a Shutout of the Crusaders, 20-0

Posted November 2, 2013 / Last updated November 7, 2013

First Shutout This Year Gives Jays Big Lift as They Prepare to Face Purple Knights in Final Game of Regular Season on Thursday

Jesuit coach Wayde Keiser and his team of Blue Jays take a knee in prayerful thanks following a well-deserved “20-nothing” shutout of Brother Martin on Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.

If there was voodoo in the air for the Jesuit – Brother Martin game on Friday evening at Tad Gormley Stadium – and there was plenty – the Blue Jays did their absolute best to ignore the distractions.

The Jays successfully blocked out all the crazy energy pulsing from the adjacent Voodoo Festival in City Park to stake their first shutout of the season. Coming on the heels of a disappointing overtime loss to Archbishop Rummel the week before, the Jays earned a great victory over the Crusaders with nary an assist from the likes of thaumaturgists, gris-gris artists, or local neighborhood ghostbusters.

In defeating Brother Martin, 20-0, the Blue Jays (5-4 overall; 2-2 in district) did it the old-fashioned, super, and natural way – with a lively, come-to-life-in-the-second-half offense that put up two touchdowns and a pair of field goals, and a pertinacious defense that seemed to know exactly what the Crusaders were up to on every play.

The Jesuit – Brother Martin rivalry is an old one and goes back 44 years (even further if factoring in the Jays’ 31-8-3 record against St. Aloysius). Coming into their 45th encounter, each team had notched 22 wins. The last five games between the two teams have swung back and forth with Jesuit winning in 2012 (31-6), 2011 (41-3), and 2009 (24-21). The Crusaders won in 2010 (28-27) and even shut out the Jays in 2008 (31-0).

Next Week: Jesuit vs. St. Augustine

So last night’s shutout by Jesuit could be considered payback for the 2008 game. The win gives Jesuit a one game advantage in the crosstown rivalry, 23-22. More importantly, it provides a huge lift to the Jays as they prepare for their annual royal battle against St. Augustine.

In the final week of the regular season for the resurrected Catholic League, the Jays and the Purple Knights will clash on Thursday, Nov. 7, once again at Tad Gormley Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

And how about this – these two rivals will be playing in the 47th game of the series, which is currently tied, each team having won 23 games. Thursday night looks to be another series tie-breaker. Just as long as the Blue Jays don’t experience another heart-breaker.

New Orleans Advocate: Jesuit stymies Brother Martin

Nola.com: Jesuit’s defenses shuts out Brother Martin, 20-0

Galleries

Football vs. Brother Martin, Nov. 1, 2013

The Blue Jays are ready to Crush the Crusaders.
Seniors Evan Fitzpatrick (8), Jimmy Mickler (53), Jason Crumb (45), and Mikey McCombs (74) serve as captains for the game against Brother Martin.
Sophomore Karson Schmitt (99) and junior David Moolekamp (87) watch the presentation of the colors ...
... as the team honors the nation during the National Anthem.
The Blue Jay offense, under the direction of junior quarterback Trey LaForge, is slow out of the gate.
The Crusaders find gaining ground equally difficult against a resolute Blue Jay defense.
Head coach Wayde Keiser 78 coached at Brother Martin before joining the Jays. The first quarter ends without a score.
Junior running Charles Jackson (9) looks for running room with H-back Michael McMahon (41) leading the way.
Senior Jack Hebert (95), junior Dillon Knight (28), and sophomore Mark Beebe (22) gang tackle a Brother Martin ball carrier.
The Jesuit cheerleading squad, including a junior one in the middle, do their best to keep the crowd in the game.
This reception by junior running back Chris Mills (25) puts the Jays into scoring position with time running out in the first half.
Sophomore Crew Jacobs nails a field goal to put the Jays up 3-0 with 28 seconds on the clock.
The Blue Jay Marching Band and Jayettes fresh from their superior performance at the District IV Marching Band Festival take the field at halftime.
The Three Tubas: juniors Steven Giorlando and Matthew Mitchell with freshman Mitchell Barras
Helmet Cam captures the Jays as they return from halftime.
Like a good New Orleans cook, the percussion section led by senior Dalton Stieffel uses everything at its disposal, including the stadium railing, to produce a gumbo of beats.
Student body vice-president Jorge Abadin carries the Jesuit spirit flag.
The Crusader quarterback struggles against a smothering Jesuit D.
H-back Michael McMahon (41) carries a caravan of Crusaders down the field.
Somewhere underneath the pile of white, reflex blue, crimson, and gold, Charles Jackson crosses the goal line putting
... putting the Jays up 10-0 with 4:14 left in the 3rd quarter.
Junior running back Malcolm Ben (21) looks for a hole.
Junior tight end Foster Moreau (82) scores for the Jays to make it 17-0 ...
... sending the J-E-S-U-I-T flags flying ...
... punctuated by the Jesuit Fight Song.
Quarterback Trey LaForge hits Foster Moreau who finds an opening in the Brother Martin zone, setting up ...
... another Crew Jacobs field goal. Jays win 20-0.
Seniors Jack Hebert (95) and Quentin Marks (3) lead their teammates through the congratulatory line.
Jayson is happy his school now leads the series against Brother Martin 23-22.

Jesuit High School of New Orleans