9-29-23 Jesuit
The largest crowd ever for a district 7-6A game is anticipated Friday night at SMU’s Gerald Ford Stadium as Jesuit hosts Highland Park in a key district battle.
Tonight’s game, originally scheduled for Jesuit’s 4,500-seat Ranger Stadium, was moved by the home team to accommodate the 10,000 to 12,000 high school football fans who are foaming at the mouth to see this game.
In addition to the emotional Tollway rivalry itself, this game has meaning on several levels. Both teams control their district championship hopes by winning out, beginning with tonight. The winner of this game is assured of at least a share of the 7-6A crown if it can run the table. That’s wasn’t the case until Richardson Berkner stunned Lake Highlands last week, 55-35.
So after 21 days of district play, each of the pre-season favorites (HP, Jesuit and Lake Highlands) have lost one game and it is Berkner who is the only undefeated team atop the district race. HP head coach Randy Allen calls it parity. I call it amazing.
Last year’s Jesuit-HP explosion left a bittersweet feeling after the final whistle for both teams. And that still-lingering feeling will dominate Friday’s game. In case you missed it, the Scots dominated the Rangers last year, leading 28-0 at halftime and 35-0 after three quarters. Then the Jesuit players woke up and grabbed the momentum and never gave it back. They controlled the fourth quarter, scoring four touchdowns. With 15 seconds left in the game the Rangers attempted an onside kick but the Scots recovered and the game ended, 35-28. Had the Rangers recovered the onside kick, I have no doubt they could have scored and probably gone for two points for the win. The momentum was that strong.
What is the bittersweet feeling that will dominate this Friday’s game? The players and coaches vividly remember how they dominated part of the game last year but allowed the other team to dominate them at other times. Both teams want to be the aggressor this time and both know they are capable of it.
Something’s got to give, folks.
Jesuit comes into this game 3-2 and having one of the most potent offensives in the area. Quarterback Charlie Peters leads the area 6A QBs, having completed 131 of 194 passes for 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns. Like the Scots, the Rangers have a clown car full of sure-handed receivers. Jesuit is ranked ninth in offense among area 6A teams. The Scots are 11th.
Piloting the Highland Park offense is 6’5” quarterback Warren Peck, who has thrown for 717 yards and six TDs while gaining 374 yards and 10 more TD’s on the ground. Peck’s big left tackle, Case Pickelman, is expected to be back from injury this week.
In addition to the 10,000 fans at the game this Friday night, there were will be another 10,000 or so watching the Russell Scott/Jim Castellaw broadcast of the game which is livestreamed across the nation.
My only advice this week: In the event the Scots are winning 35-0, don’t leave the game early.