#14 TAMPA CATHOLIC CRUSADERS (8-1) at #3 JESUIT TIGERS (9-0)
When: Friday, November 6, 2015, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Corral Memorial Stadium, 4701 North Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614
TV: BHSN (Channel 47 and HD 1147)
Coaches: TAMPA CATHOLIC- Mike Gregory (21-11, 3rd Season) JESUIT- Matt Thompson (25-9, 3rd Season)
How they match up:
Tampa Catholic and Jesuit both enter this regular season finale ranked third in the state in their respective classes with district championships wrapped up. But before the playoffs start, they’ll face off against each other in the latest installment of this heated rivalry known as “The Holy War”. The Crusaders think this is the year they can finally end Jesuit’s 15-game win streak in the series, including an epic 31-28 Tigers win last season. Tampa Catholic wide receiver Nate Craig is the 11th-ranked senior prospect at any position in the entire nation. Craig, who missed almost all of last season with a broken fibula, has 41 receptions for 610 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also has five interceptions in spite of only being a part-time defensive player. Junior running back/cornerback Devan Barrett, who has more than a dozen big school offers (including Florida and Kentucky), is averaging close to 11 yards per carry with 1540 rush yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior Austin Sessums has thrown for 1885 yards (22 TD and 5 INT) in his first year as the Crusaders’ starting quarterback. Sophomore inside linebacker Dorien Gooch (son of former Bucs linebacker Jeff Gooch) has already topped the 100 tackle mark this season.
Jesuit is playing for its first unbeaten regular season since 2010. Eight of the Tigers nine wins have been by 17 points per game or more. The Jesuit offense is averaging close to 40 points per game. The Tigers are carried by junior running back Malik Davis, who ran for 196 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa Catholic last season. Davis has scored 20 touchdowns and rushed for 1303 yards in spite of missing two games earlier in the season. Junior quarterback Danny Boon has been steady in his first year as a varsity starter, throwing for 1068 yards and 12 touchdown passes to just four interceptions. His top target is senior wide receiver Rey Riveros, who heads the team with 21 receptions for 222 yards and four touchdowns. The Tiger defense has been just as if not more impressive, yielding just over seven points per game. The linebackers stand out in the 3-4 scheme, with senior Zack Quilty (72 tackles, 11 sacks) and sophomore phenom Braden Gilby (79 tackles, 7 sacks) leading the charge.
Three Facts to know:
1. DISCIPLINE OF A MARINE- Jesuit head coach Matt Thompson spent time in 20 different countries during his time in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fits right in at Jesuit, a school which Thompson feels instills the same values into young men that he learned during his days serving his country. Thompson was in Panama when the U.S. invaded and took Manuel Noriega out of power in 1989.
2. CRUSADING BACK TO WINNING- Tampa Catholic’s five win (and counting) turnaround from last year’s 3-7 season is one of the biggest win/loss improvements in the Tampa Bay area. Nate Craig’s explosive return and the Crusaders’ continued progress has head coach Mike Gregory’s team back in the playoffs for the ninth time in ten seasons.
3. BLOCK PARTY AT JESUIT- The Tigers have blocked six kicks this season, including five punts. Quilty has three punt blocks and a blocked field goal, while senior safety Mayson Atkinson has two blocked punts.