Senior John Michael Priddy's 95-yard interception return for a touchdown highlighted a night where the Jesuit Dallas defense forced four Mesquite Horn turnovers en route to a statement-making, 42-21 victory over the Jaguars in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) Bi-District round game on Friday night at a packed Postell Stadium.

Priddy finished the game with a pair of interceptions for 109 total yards, adding six tackles and a pass breakup.  With the Rangers leading, 14-0, the Jaguars (6-5) threatened inside the Jesuit Dallas red zone.  The University of Michigan lacrosse commit jumped a screen pass and took off down the sideline, cruising into the end zone to send Postell Stadium into a frenzy while giving the Rangers a 21-0 lead headed into halftime.

Jesuit Dallas (10-1) was outgained by the Jaguars, 518 yards to 360, but the Rangers were able to make more key plays en route to their fourth consecutive trip to the second round of the UIL Football State Championships.  Junior Jacob Palisch completed 13-of-16 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown and 59 yards on the ground. 

Senior Rusty Landon snagged a team-high two receiving touchdowns, while classmate Adam Holtz added a rushing and receiving touchdown.  Senior Peyton Long tacked on a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, while senior Jordan Rice picked up a critical fumble recovery.

The Rangers set the tone early, recovering a muffed Mesquite Horn punt on their first drive before ultimately coming up short at the Jaguars' one-yard line.  Forcing a Jaguars punt, the Rangers watched a seven-play, 78-yard drive culminate with a one-yard touchdown run by Holtz.  The ensuing drive by Mesquite Horn ended abruptly when senior Ryan Brooks forced a fumble recovered by Rice, allowing the methodical Ranger offense to embark upon a 14-play, 90-yard drive that encapsulated 6:49 of the second quarter clock.

On third and three from the Mesquite Horn 26-yard line, Palisch broke open a run down the left side, following his blockers all the way to pay dirt to spot the Rangers a two touchdown lead.  Mesquite marched down the field following the Ranger touchdown, but at the five-yard line, Priddy snagged a cross-field pass by Jaguars quarterback Chris Robison for a game-altering interception touchdown return, finding the end zone with 37 seconds left in the second quarter.  The Rangers then forced a turnover on downs to end the half and head into the break with a three-touchdown lead.

Priddy picked up where he left off in the second half, causing another turnover with his second interception of the evening on Mesquite Horns's first drive of the second half.  Palisch turned the turnover into points, finding Landon from 35-yards out for his first passing touchdown of the evening.  After another Mesquite turnover on downs, Palisch completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Landon to increase the cushion to 35 points with 28 seconds remaining in the third.

After a Mesquite Horn touchdown run ended the third quarter, the two squads traded drives until Palisch read a blitz and found Holtz on the screen pass.  The senior slipped past three Jaguar defenders en route to the end zone from 46 yards out, Holtz' longest scoring play of the season.

Jesuit Dallas will next battle Rockwall in the 2015 UIL Football State Championship Area Round, facing the Yellow Jackets on Friday, Nov. 20 at Kimbrough Stadium.