PHOTO GALLERY

The Rangers scored 38 unanswered points to open Friday's non-district clash against brother school Strake Jesuit, using a stellar first half to set the stage for an eventual 38-27 win over the Crusaders at Postell Stadium.
 
Senior Adam Holtz led a determined Ranger ground game, recording 128 yards on the ground over 18 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per touch to lead the squad in the backfield.  The Rangers finished the contest with 215 total rushing yards, closing out the cross-state bout with 365 total yards of offense.  Junior Jacob Palisch went 11-of-15, throwing for 144 yards and three touchdowns, including a 63-yard strike to senior Rusty Landon in the third quarter that kept the dominant opening run by the Rangers intact.  Palish also tacked on a rushing touchdown.
 
Defensively, senior Dane Bender led the charge with a team-leading seven tackles, including six solo stops.  Fourth year John Michael Priddy and junior Lucas Kincade scored five tackles each, with Kincade logging a team-leading 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.  Senior Ryan Brooks added two tackles for loss, finishing with three tackles as senior Peyton Long made four stops.  Senior Mac Elliott broke up a pair of passes, picking off the Crusaders in a critical first half play. 

Senior Connor Lanpher nabbed a pair of touchdown passes as senior Max Loughborough added 99 all-purpose yards, snagging three receptions for 44 yards while also running for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Jesuit Dallas (2-1) set the tone early with a 74-yard opening drive that encapsulated 4:48 of the first quarter clock.  Starting at their own 26, the Rangers marched down the field before Loughborough took three cracks at paydirt on first and goal, finally breaking through from the one-yard line on third down to get the home squad on the board.

On the ensuing Strake Jesuit (1-2) drive, the Rangers forced a turnover on downs at their own 34, setting up Holtz for a 32-yard scamper downfield on the ensuing play, adding a 24-yard run soon after to put the Rangers back in the red zone.  Lanpher snagged his first touchdown pass of the day on third and goal from the four-yard line to put the Rangers up, 14-0.

Another failed Strake drive turned into a Ranger  touchdown when Palisch found Lanpher from six yards out with 7:54 remaining in the second half.  Facing fourth and 10 with fewer than two minutes remaining in the half, a special teams miscue by Strake Jesuit scored a safety for the Rangers.  Sophomore Jack Tabor put the Rangers into scoring position with a strong return on the free kick, bringing the squad close enough for Palisch to run for a four-yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining in the half to send the Rangers into the break leading 31-0.  The Rangers continued their control of the game after halftime, as Palisch aired out a 63-yard, play-action toss downfield, finding Landon in stride to spot the Blue and Gold a 38-point advantage in the third. 

Strake Jesuit scored its first touchdown with 3:24 remaining in the third, starting a run of 26 unanswered points to end the contest.  The Crusaders looked to make one final volley at a miraculous comeback with the ball at the Jesuit 46, but the Ranger defense shut the door on the Strake Jesuit rally after a sack by Brooks, a quick stop by Bender and a nine-yard, game-clinching sack by Kincade.

Prior to the contest, Jesuit Dallas honored members of the Dallas Fire and Police departments while additionally recognizing the dignitaries of the Ground Zero 360 exhibit, a special addition to the Jesuit Dallas Museum that pays a powerful tribute to the first responders and victims of the September 11 attacks.

The Rangers will next be in action on Thursday, Sept. 24, hitting the road to battle the Sunset Bison.  Jesuit Dallas will return home on Friday, Oct. 3 to battle Skyline at Postell Stadium.