Jays Refuse to Fold, Snatch a 17-15 Jamboree Win from Cougar Jaws

Posted August 29, 2014 / Last updated August 30, 2014

With the clock showing goose eggs, junior Crew Jacobs makes the most of his second attempt and splits the uprights to snatch victory from the jaws of Cougars.

View the Photo Gallery of the Jesuit – Karr Game

The Blue Jays were in the driver’s seat for most of Thursday evening’s game against the Karr Cougars at the Bonnabel Jamboree. Jesuit had a comfortable 14-0 lead up until 3:45 of the second half (jamborees are two 15-minute halves).

That’s when the Jays must have felt like they hit an eject button on the driver’s seat.

The Cougars cut the lead to 14-7 and with 24 seconds on the clock, Karr scored again to make it a 14-13 game. Eschewing the point-after kick for a tied game, the Cougars turned a busted play into a two-point conversion. And just like that, the Jays were down 15-14.

Down but not out. A lot of teams would have folded, but not this Jesuit team.

On the ensuing kickoff, junior Jakirai Wiley went right up Karr’s middle, breaking tackles and finding daylight to the 35-yard line of the Cougars. Wiley almost went all the way for a TD. The Jays had time to run one play and they had to at least pick up enough yardage to be in junior Crew Jacobs’ field goal range. Senior quarterback Trey LaForge hit junior Kalija Lipscomb up the middle for 15 yards.

Three seconds left. In comes Jacobs to kick a 30-yarder, a distance well within his range. The snap, the kick is up, time expires on the clock, and… the ball sails wide right. Except a flag is on the ground. The referees confer and Karr is penalized 10 yards for roughing the center after the snap.

The game cannot end on a penalty so Jacobs and the Jays get a redo. This time, Jacobs splits the uprights from 20 yards out. Jays 17, Cougars 15.

The Jesuit players run on the field and briefly surround Jacobs before forming a line to shake hands with the Cougars.

Senior safety Dillon Knight scored the first touchdown when he recovered a blocked punt in the Cougars’ end zone. The punt was blocked by senior linebacker Mitchell Melito. The Jays’ second touchdown came on a 20-yard pass from LaForge to senior running back Malcolm Ben.

“I know we’re going to get that effort week in and week out,” said head coach Mark Songy after the game.”Our special teams did well today and we were able to get one out even with all the mistakes. Against a quality opponent like Karr, this propels us forward. I’m excited for the kids. They’ll be a bounce in our steps when we get back to work.”

Galleries

Football 2014: Jesuit vs. Karr (Bonnabel Jamboree); Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014

Defensive tackle Hunter Robert (51) and linebacker Robert Lobrano take a break from the action.
Blue Jays jump in exhiliration and rush onto the field after Crew Jacobs kicks a 20-yard field goal with no time left on the clock. His first attempt from 30 yards was wide right, but a penalty on Karr resulted in a second attempt, this time from the 20-yard line. Jacobs's kick is good and the Jays win, 17-15.
With the clock showing goose eggs, junior Crew Jacobs makes the most of his second attempt and splits the uprights to snatch victory from the jaws of Cougars.
... Wiley runs the kickoff back to the Cougars' 35-yard-line.
The Jays need a miracle and his name is Jakirai Wiley, defensive back and return specialist. Show Wiley daylight and he'll do the rest...
Senior cornerback Justin Helm (14) and Mitchell Melito (38) can't stop the Karr quarterback on this two-point coversion and the Cougars take the lead, 15-14 with 24 seconds left in the game.
Blue Jay fans were treated to a thriller.
Jesuit cheerleaders do their thing and get the crowd going.
Senior Shawn Walsh handled the punting duties for the Jays.
Chris Mills skirts the end for a big gain.
Jakirai Wiley (4) and senior defensive back Harrison Daste (39) come off the field.
Coach Mark Songy tries to get the attention of one of the defensive players.
Senior running back Malcolm Ben goes up for this touchdown catch to give the Jays a 14-0 lead. Junior Crew Jacobs kicked both extra points.
Senior tight end Foster Moreau goes high for this catch and holds onto it despite taking a big hit coming down.
Blue Jays "All the Way" in 2014.
Senior tight end Alex Rabalais picks up a few yards.
.. Kalija Lipscomb is interfered with and the Jays are in business at their own 40-yard line.
Well-protected and standing cool on Jesuit's 5-yard line, Trey LaForge launches a pass...
Sophomore Jandon Briscoe (3) jumps in excitement as the other Jays celebrate in the end zone.
... senior safety Dillon Knight is there to recover to put the Blue Jays on the scoreboard.
The Jays get a big break when senior linebacker Mitchell Melito blocks this punt in the Cougar endzone and...
Trey LaForge can't find an open receiver and scampers for a short gain.
Middle linebacker Robert Lobrano slows down a Cougar as defensive end Zack Robert moves in.
The Cougars had trouble containing Charles Jackson.
Junior Jakirai Wiley catches Karr's quarterback and forces a fumble that the Cougars are lucky to recover.
Senior Chris Mills sweeps the outskirts for a big gain.
Senior Charles Jackson finds daylight up the middle.
The Jays take the field.