Jesuit Tigers

2015: 13-1, 5A-District 10 champs. The Tigers lost to eventual 5A state champion Bishop Moore in the state semifinals.

Head Coach: Matt Thompson, 29-10 in three seasons at Jesuit

Key Returners: QB Danny Boon, RB Malik Davis, LB Braden Gilby, WR/CB Travell Harris, OL/DL Bradley Haines, C Jake Moore, DE Anthony Nelson, WR Kendrick Torain

The Scoop: The Tigers are on the cusp on greatness. They return seven starters on offense and five on defense. They will have a brand new starting defensive line, but Thompson thinks they could be better in the trenches this season.

Quotable: “Our skill guys are going to be there. What we have to do is rebuild our defensive line and add a couple of guys to the offensive line. But I think we’re heading in the right direction.” Thompson

 

There’s some heavy lifting going on at Jesuit. The Tigers are laying the bricks in hopes of building a championship program.
“We got a good foundation going, so, it’s our job to keep it going,” head coach Matt Thompson said. “The kids have been working hard and they’ve responded well.”
Responded by putting in the grueling workouts in the weight room and on the football field. The players know you don’t just show up on Friday nights and expect running back Malik Davis to merely sprint down the sideline for a touchdown. Davis makes it look easy, but it involves a lot of pain and sweat.
“I think the workouts have been more objective based,” center Jake Moore said. “We’ve done much better in the weight room. We’re definitely getting much stronger. We’re more driven than last year because how close we are and we know we can win it all at states.”
Quite the bold prediction, but not out of left field when you consider since Thompson joined the program in 2013, the Tigers have been inching closer and closer to its first state championship since 1968. And there’s a strong feeling that this is the group to do it.
“I do see that strive to do just a little bit better and each year since I’ve been there, we’ve gotten a little better and better and hopefully this will be the year.”

 

2016 Schedule

8/25 Lakewood Ranch

9/2 at Trinity Catholic

9/9 Leto

9/16 Jefferson

9/23 at Pasco

9/30 at Middleton

10/7 Sarasota

10/14 Robinson

10/28 at Spoto

11/4 at Tampa Catholic