Rangers on Brink of Second District Crown
The Ranger defense slammed the door on Lake Highlands in the second half, scoring a dominant, 56-21 win at Wildcat-Ram Stadium. Senior John Wunderlick posted his third consecutive 100-yard performance, finishing with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while senior Jacob Palisch threw for 132 yards and a touchdown. Juniors Jack Tabor and Hank Clements recorded touchdowns, and reigning Ranger of the Week Evan Jackson carried the ball nine times for 64 yards and a score. Senior Matt Eubanks recorded 10 tackles, while sophomore Pierce Strong returned a punt 18 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, adding three solo tackles. In total, Jesuit stopped the Wildcats six times behind the line of scrimmage, including tackles for loss by seniors Jack Metz and Andrew Miskell, who finished the contest with five total stops.
 
Jesuit Big-Play Prone Heading into Homestretch
During district play, Jesuit has scored touchdowns of 40 yards or more 12 times, including three against Lake Highlands. Wunderlick completed his first touchdown pass of the season on the Rangers' first offensive play, a 56-yard pass to Rosenbleeth that is the third-longest reception of the year. All three of the longest completions of the season have been snagged by Rosenbleeth, the longest of which was an 87-yard, non-scoring reception against Coppell. Hank Clements broke off the longest run of the campaign and the longest scoring play of the year with his 73-yard run in the fourth, while Tabor caught the third longest touchdown pass of the year with a 52-yard score in the first. In total, Jesuit has recorded five touchdowns of 40-to-49 yards this season, and have broken off 11 touchdowns or 20 or more yards.
 
Halftime Adjustments Paying Dividends
Jesuit has outscored district foes 121-35 in the second half during its unbeaten start to district play, including holding Lake Highlands to only seven points in the second half after the Wildcats rushed for 196 yards in the first half. Halftime adjustments by defensive coordinator Billy Thompson and his staff have led to the squad's second half success in district, which have also seen the Blue and Gold make 30 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including eight in the fourth quarter two weeks ago against J.J. Pearce.
 
District Road Warriors
With last week's win over Lake Highlands, the Rangers have won eight consecutive road district games dating back to 2014. Jesuit swept road opponents last season and last lost on the road on October 3, 2014, in a 56-30 setback to Skyline at Forester Stadium, aiming to finish off another unblemished district record away from Postell Stadium on Friday against the Longhorns.
 
The Fog Lifts On Playoff Road
Jesuit will clinch its second consecutive UIL 9-6A District Championship with a win Friday against the Longhorns. The Rangers were co-champions of 9-6A in 2004 with Richardson Berkner, but used a 7-0 district record in 2015 to clinch their first-ever outright district title. A win Friday would provide the Ranger athletics department its first district championship of the 2016-17 academic year, and the program's 61st overall district crown. The Rangers and the remaining 9-6A playoff qualifiers will meet with members of 10-6A, which is currently led by Sachse. According to current district standings, Jesuit would play Naaman Forest, currently 3-1 in district and 5-3 overall.
 
Hickman on Verge of Milestone
Currently, Jesuit head coach Brandon Hickman holds a 49-19 record at the helm of the Ranger football program. Hickman aims to become the fourth head coach in program history to hit the 50-win plateau, joining Jesuit Hall of Fame members Lancaster Smith, Gary Pasqua, and 2016 Gold Ranger Award winner Bob Wunderlick. Serving as the program's head coach since the 2011 season, Hickman has earned a 34-6 record in district, and has mentored 48 all-district selections.
 
Last Time They Met….
During a rain-soaked night at Postell Stadium, Jesuit shut out W.T. White, 43-0, on October 23, 2015. One of five shutouts in 2015 the Blue and Gold, the Ranger defense caused three turnovers and forced a safety on the Longhorns' opening drive, led by John Michael Priddy '16, who recorded a team-high eight tackles. Palisch scored four total touchdowns, including three on the ground, vaulting Jesuit to 304 team rushing yards and 8-of-12 on third downs. With the victory, the Rangers retained the "Battle for the Saddle" title for the eighth consecutive season, and move the all-time series advantage to 8-2-0 against the Longhorns.
 
Up Next
The Rangers will close the 2016 regular season against Berkner, hosting the Rams for their annual homecoming game. Berkner, who look poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, enter the penultimate week of the season with a 4-4 overall record and 2-3 mark in district, closing out the season at home against Richardson before battling Jesuit at Postell Stadium.