NO. 19 TAMPA CATHOLIC CRUSADERS (7-2) at JESUIT (4-4)
When: Friday, November 3, 2017, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Alumni Field at Corral Memorial Stadium, 4701 North Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614
TV: Spectrum Sports (Channel 47 and HD 1147)
Coaches: TAMPA CATHOLIC CRUSADERS- Mike Gregory (36-19, 5th Season), JESUIT TIGERS- Matt Thompson (45-15, 5th Season)
How they match up:
Will this be the year that Tampa Catholic finally beats Jesuit? That’s the question that will be answered Friday night. The Tigers have won 17 straight games in this long-time rivalry, but they’ll have their hands full against the cruising Crusaders. Tampa Catholic is riding a six-game winning streak and hasn’t been challenged since a 17-13 gutsy win over Berkeley Prep in late September. Crusaders junior quarterback Charlie Dean (1,430 pass yards, 13 TD, 5 INT) has been on a tear over the past five games (12 TD, INT) and has an elite receiver to throw to in junior Ahmarean Brown (31 receptions, 544 yards, 5 TD). Junior running back Jalen Bussey (566 rush yards, 6 TD) has emerged as an every down ballcarrier, while sophomore Joseph Hodge (597 yards from scrimmage, 6 TD) is small in stature but huge in production both as a receiver and rusher. Senior linebackers Dorien Gooch and Raymond Benefield are the heart of a Tampa Catholic defense that has been incredibly stingy. Senior cornerback Messiah Turner leads the team with two interceptions.
Jesuit is 4-4, but the Tigers were literally a yard away from two more big wins this season. The return of junior running back Matthew Pittman (147 rush yards, 2 TD) from injury opens the offense up, as mega-recruit Larry Hodges (492 yards from scrimmage, 6 TD) has shifted back to his natural spot at receiver. Freshman quarterback Enzo Tedesco (545 pass yards, TD, 7 INT) has a promising future and has shown great poise for a young player. Senior wideout Brendan Callahan (13 receptions, 86 yards) and sophomore tight end Jonathan Odom (8 receptions, 122 yards) give Tedesco two more targets to get involved in the offense. Jesuit’s defense has been rock solid all year long. Senior linebacker Braden Gilby (79 tackles, 3 sacks) is a Furman commit who has all the right instincts. The Tigers are loaded with playmakers to complement him in head coach Matt Thompson’s 3-4 defense: senior Nick Terrana (80 tackles, 8 sacks), senior Anthony Nelson (62 tackles, 8 sacks), and sophomore Brett Gerena (67 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss). Senior cornerback Kendrick Torain is a UCLA commit who most quarterbacks are wise enough to throw away from.
Three Facts to know:
1. DONUT CITY- That sounds like a great name for a breakfast joint, but it’s actually the nickname the Tampa Catholic players have given to their defense. The Crusaders have four straight shutouts (including three in eight days), and a touchdown hasn’t been scored against their defense since September 28, a stretch of five consecutive games.
2. GONE TO GAINESVILLE- Tampa Catholic head coach Mike Gregory has had to scramble to come up with a game plan to slow down Malik Davis for four years. This week, things are a little less stressful with Davis wearing a Florida Gators uniform. Davis, who rushed for more than 7,000 yards and 83 touchdowns with the Tigers, was enjoying an incredible freshman year with the Gators (526 rush yards, 2 TD, 6.7 yards per carry) before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Georgia last week.
3. BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVALRY- Tampa Catholic senior wide receiver/safety Kijah Kelly has been on both sides of this rivalry. Kelly suited up in Jesuit’s blue and white and played against the Crusaders before transferring to Tampa Catholic before his junior year. After missing last year with a torn ACL, this will be Kelly’s first chance to play against Jesuit. Kelly’s father, former University of Miami star quarterback Kenny Kelly, has plenty of his own memories from playing against the Tigers in this rivalry that he has shared with Kijah and his brother, Kiael Kelly, who also plays for the Crusaders this year.