Junior Marauders Sweep Center, Aim for Playoffs

The Jesuit Junior Marauders youth football team swept the visiting Center Junior Cougars earlier this month at ’s Loyola Field.

The Junior Pee Wees led off in the 10 a.m. game on Oct. 8, which proved to be a defensive struggle. Center controlled the ball early as Jesuit ran only nine offensive plays in the first quarter.

Trailing 6-0 with 1:10 to go in the half, running back Dylan Thong swept around right end for a 44-yard score to even the contest.

Jesuit’s Little Red Brick Wall was stout against Center’s Power I attack. Andrew Gannaway was unmovable in the center of the Jesuit line.

Chris Thorns intercepted a Center pass with less than two minutes on the clock, but Jesuit’s offense, behind the running of quarterback Joseph Adge and Thorns, could not convert the opportunity. Surprisingly, Center went to the air with 17 seconds remaining. Wills Segale promptly intercepted the pass at the Center 43 but was tripped up at the Center 14.

In overtime, Thong carried around left end for 8 yards to the Center 2, setting up Thorns’ 2-yard touchdown over the right side. Adge kept around left end for the PAT and Jesuit’s first lead of the day.

Jesuit’s defense then held to preserve the 13-6 victory. The win moved the Little Red to 3-2 on the year.

Jesuit’s Pee Wees overwhelmed the visiting Cougars with a balanced attack and relentless defense to move to 4-1 on the season.

Cade Brownholtz carried around right end for a 2-yard score on Jesuit’s second possession for a 7-0 lead. Following a Center punt, Brownholtz hit a
streaking Jacob Vujovich on a 66-yard pass play, Jesuit’s longest of the season, which set up a Hunter McGann touchdown.

Nick Richmond rambled 32-yards over left tackle, untouched, for his first TD of the season and a 21-0 halftime lead.

Luke Williams completed all four of his passes for 42 yards, including a 21-yarder to William Asby for a 27-0 lead in the third quarter. Overall, Jesuit completed 5 of 12 throws to four different Marauders to notch its first 100-yard passing game of the year.

The Marauders also rushed for 134 yards on 22 carries, led by McGann (6-47), Richmond (2-38), Kaden Thorns (6-31), and Max Sackett (3-19). Jesuit had a season-high 10 first downs and averaged over 7 yards a play.

Defensively, Bryce Heng recovered a Center fumble in the end zone for the game’s final margin and Jesuit’s first defensive TD of the year. Center did not run a play in Jesuit territory.

Jagger Saca and Richmond intercepted passes, while Akili Bonner grabbed a fumble, one of eight Cougar miscues. The Red Brick Wall held Center to minus 68 yards rushing.

“Our best effort of the season,” said JJM head coach Sean Richmond. “The kids prepared very well despite a short week."

"It was our most complete game of the season," he said. "We were able to get a lot of kids into the game, and they all played very well. The coaches are really proud of the kids!”

JJM’s Junior Midgets jumped out early against Center and never looked back. RB Antonio Hernandez sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

Brian Bauer’s booming kickoff pinned the Cougars inside their own ten yard line. Brandon Calk then forced a fumble that teammate Kyle Hagy recovered and returned for a score.

Quinton Williams intercepted a pass on Center’s next series and returned it 8 yards for a 20-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Jayme Thomas, returning from an injury, carried 40 yards on his first run to set up a 3-yard plunge by Mason LaFond.

LaFond had three scores on the day, including a 70-yard gallop around right end, and a 44-yard reception from QB Calvin Brownholtz.

Jesuit’s defense extended its string to 14 quarters without allowing a touchdown. The Red Brick Wall has scored seven touchdowns on the season.

In the final game of the day, the Midgets raced by the Junior Cougars 38-0.

Jesuit opened the scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Thong to tight end Bailey Abercrombie. Runnning back Beau Bisharat followed with two scoring runs, the second a 78-yard sprint around left end with
Carter Herne and Dominic Nocito leading the way.

Quarterback Kelly Reilly added scores from 5 and 44 yards, and running back Syrus Anderson carried for a 28-yard score to extend the lead to 38-0 late in the
second quarter.

“It was a total team effort out there today,” head coach Russ Brown said.

Brown cited the efforts of Christian Dyer, Jack Cosca, Jake Koon, Jordan Vujovich and Nathanial Huck.

“Those guys really led the way with hustle. They did a great job,” said Brown, whose squad moved to 5-0 with the win.

The Junior Marauders next host the C.K. McClatchy Junior Lions in the regular season finale on Saturday at Jesuit’s .
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Submitted by the Jesuit Junior Marauders organization.

The Jesuit Jr. Marauders is a faith-based athletic organization that actively develops young athletes from all backgrounds. The Jr. Marauders rely on the positive contributions of young athletes and parents in the areas of: sportsmanship, discipline, character, and academic achievement in a competitive team environment. The Jr. Marauders are the official youth tackle football program for Jesuit High School.