THE DREAM SEASON
run-out, the Blue Tide was at a fever
pitch. The stadium was packed. The
moment of moments had arrived, having
materialized out of nowhere in the
middle of the week.
There was only one question: Did the
past 6 seasons, have the chops to hang
with mighty Aquinas? The Raiders
had never lost to a Hillsborough
were routine victories
for Aquinas.
“I thought that
was insane for
thinking that we
could beat a national
powerhouse like St.
Thomas Aquinas,”
said senior guard
.
The night would live
up to all hype and
hope. A light rain, on
and off, established
the atmosphere.
The Jesuit defense
forced an incredible
six turnovers, with
a
interception on the
the tone ( and Kevin
also had interceptions). The
massive Aquinas offensive line met its
match in the active Jesuit defensive front
spearheaded by Pesansky and Omarion
.
The Jesuit offensive line, anchored
by pancake-machine
, a.k.a. Mr. IHOP, cracked
open holes for star running back Joquez
, who pounded through en
route to 172 rushing yards and a TD on 21
carries.
of the contest came in the waning
18 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2021-22
running out the clock, content with a 14-
10 lead. Then , Jesuit’s All-
State linebacker, popped the ball loose
from a running back, grabbed it, and
rumbled 30 yards for the touchdown
with just 8 seconds remaining until
halftime. The successful PAT – kicker
would make 70 of 72
extra points on the season – sent
the Tigers to the locker
room up 17-14 and with
the momentum in front
of a frenzied throng of
supporters.
After intermission, the
defenses dug in. But in
the 4th quarter, Aquinas
broke through with a
touchdown and reclaimed
the lead, 21-17.
Jesuit would get one
last chance. The defense
pinned Aquinas and
forced a punt. The
Tigers took over in good
Luke
-to-Jarriett
pass got Jesuit
in the red zone. Time
was winding down … 19
seconds … 18 … 17 … 16 …
The entire Blue Tide
– hundreds of Jesuit
students – poured out of the stands
and dashed down toward the south
end zone. They lined the fence adjacent
spontaneous uprising of brotherhood
and support.
Jaydn
, in the left slot, ran straight
to the end zone and turned around. The
cradled it for the winning score, and
pandemonium ensued.
With 9 seconds to go, Jesuit had just
taken the lead over St. Thomas Aquinas,
the nation’s No. 6-ranked team by
Luck is always a factor over the
course of a four-and-a-half month
long football season.
By halftime of the preseason game,
it sure seemed luck wasn’t on the side
of Jesuit’s 2021 football season. During
the summer, the returning starter at left
tackle, , sustained a
season-ending knee injury.
Then early in the preseason game vs.
Largo, starting defensive end Andre
also was lost with a season
ending knee injury.
Suddenly, the good mojo built up over
months of 6:00am workouts and spring
practice and statewide success against
top competition in 7-on-7 tournaments
and at team camp in July, it all seemed to
be fading fast.
But the situation stabilized quickly,
thanks to Jesuit’s quality depth. Mikey
and
stepped in for Morris.
moved from the defensive line and to
replace Shaw and proved a quick study
and high-caliber blocker.
For the remainder of the season, the
Tigers were largely injury-free. Minor
Jesuit 24, St. Thomas Aquinas 21.
The Tigers had notched the biggest
regular season victory in school history
– Aquinas’ 13 State titles are the most
in Florida prep annals – in a game that
wasn’t even on the schedule just two
days earlier.
“I was in utter disbelief at that moment
because everything felt like a movie –
the deafening home crowd, the pictureperfect
comeback, the victory,” Tran
said. “It was surreal.”
Said Thompson to a reporter afterward:
“Two days ago, we scheduled this game,
and it wasn’t to be somebody’s doormat
or to get a team in and see how good
we were. We fully expected to win, and
Fortune favors the bold.
Christian Micko '22
and the Jesuit Pep
Band are a fixture at
all football games
A huge Blue Tide presence
at the biggest
games helped inspire
the Tigers
I thought
that Coach
Thompson
was insane
for thinking
beat a national
powerhouse
Aquinas.