Rangers Topple Coppell to Open District Campaign

Senior Evan Jackson rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns and the Jesuit defense recorded six sacks to push the Rangers to a statement-making, 41-10 win over Coppell in the squad's district opener. Jesuit scored four total rushing touchdowns en route to its first win over Coppell since 2004. Senior John Wunderlick recorded 113 all-purpose yards, while junior Israel Ollarzabal kicked a pair of 33-yard field goals. Defensively, senior captain Jordan Rice recorded 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, closing out the game with a team-high nine tackles. Senior Luke Nolan recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter, returning the ball 68 yards for a defensive touchdown. Junior Hank Bitterman made seven solo stops, while senior Matt Eubanks finished with eight tackles. Jesuit tackled Coppell 11 times behind the line of scrimmage, including two apiece from Nolan and senior Michael Schoettmer.

Returning Rangers Provide Major Spark

Seniors Jacob Palisch and Fletcher Rosenbleeth made their return to the Jesuit offensive lineup, making critical plays in the Rangers' district win over Coppell. Palisch found Rosenbleeth for an 87-yard completion in the first quarter, the program's longest play from scrimmage in two seasons to set up a four-yard touchdown run from Palisch. Rosenbleeth wrapped up his 2016 debut with three receptions for 107 yards, adding a 27-yard kickoff return, while Palisch completed 10-of-21 passes for 252 yards, in addition to 26 rushing yards on seven carries.

Jacksons Running Wild

Through four games this season, senior Evan Jackson has 417 rushing yards to his credit, and leads the team with six touchdowns. Averaging 103.5 rushing yards per game, Jackson became the first Ranger running back to score three touchdowns in a single game since Matt Slovak, who accomplished the task in a 56-29 win over Irving on October 10, 2014. The senior's 37-yard touchdown run with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter is the team's longest run of the year. After the first four games, Jesuit has utilized a balanced offense, averaging 176.3 yards on the ground and 195.75 through the air. Senior Connor Jackson has been a key role player, and is currently second on the team with eight catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Defense Demonstrating Determined Grit

After three weeks of facing the most prolific offenses in Texas, the Jesuit Dallas defense finally had a chance to shine against Coppell. Senior Jordan Rice was named the Jesuit Dallas Ranger of the Week and earned a spot on the Dallas Morning News Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention team, logging nine tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Jesuit held Coppell to 2-of-14 on third down while causing four turnovers on downs, and minimized the Cowboy running game to 158 yards, the lowest opponent rushing total this season. The Ranger defense scored its first defensive touchdown of the year on Nolan's 68-yard scoop-and-score, while Rice's nine-tackle evening was the most since Peyton Long made 10 stops in last year's UIL Bi-District round clash against Mesquite Horn, a game that also featured Jesuit's last defensive touchdown, a 98-yard interception return by John Michael Priddy. Out of the eight Rangers with double digit tackles this season, six are seniors, including Michael Schoettmer, who is second on the team with 13 tackles and three tackles for loss. 

Last Time the Rangers Faced the Eagles…

Jesuit scored 35 first quarter points in a 41-27 victory over Richardson on Nov. 8, 2013. Bo Schneider completed 10-of-18 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Matt Slovak ran the ball 10 times for 59 yards and two scores. Orion Salters added 89 yards and a touchdown, while Slovak and Kellen McAlone caught touchdown passes. The game also featured an appearance by 2016 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year Kyle Muller, who as a freshman completed two passes for 12 yards, along with a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown by Salters in the waning moments of the first quarter. Friday's is the seventh meeting between the two squads since Jesuit's move to the UIL. The Rangers have won six consecutive against the Eagles, last falling to Richardson in the 1981 campaign.

Up Next

On October 7, Jesuit will return to Postell Stadium to face the Skyline Raiders, which enter the second week of district play after narrowly escaping W.T. White in overtime on Sept. 22. Last season, Jesuit snapped Skyline's 49-game district winning streak with a 24-21 victory at Postell Stadium, a victory forged by an 18-yard touchdown run by Palisch with 1:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. Next Friday's contest will be broadcasted live by Tom Walsh and Jack Fitzsimmons '76 live on KHYI 95.3 The Range, and will also be broadcasted on delay by TXA 21.