Jesuit Dallas opened the district season with a convincing, 47-21 win over Pearce on Friday at Eagle-Mustang Stadium. Opening the bout with 27 unanswered points, the Rangers enter a big showdown with Lake Highlands next Friday with momentum gathered by a strong performance after the bye week.
 
Senior Robert Fitzgerald secured three turnovers in the game, recovering a fumble and snagging a pair of interceptions. With 44 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Fitzgerald recorded the second pick-six of his career, an electrifying, 38-yard return that put Jesuit up 21-0. Fitzgerald finished second on the team with eight tackles, adding a tackle for loss and pass breakup. Senior Austin Graham led the team with nine stops while senior David Long and sophomore Logan Thompson added six tackles each.
 
Senior Joe Staubach caught his first touchdown of the season on a wild play, as a pass from senior Gage Roy to sophomore Landon Polk was knocked into the air, where the open Staubach secured the reception and raced into the end zone for a 52-yard score. Senior Hunter Krepp kept his streak alive, scoring in his fourth consecutive game with a 32-yard touchdown reception on the third play from scrimmage. Roy would finish the game 7-of-11 from the field with 157 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Jesuit's run game racked up 202 yards and four touchdowns against Pearce, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Junior Cameron Martin led the way with 12 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Martin also led the Rangers in receiving yards, catching the ball three times for 57 yards, including a big 48-yard reception in the third quarter. Junior Charlie Schmidt found pay dirt, finishing the game with five rushes for 41 yards. Roy scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on a one-yard plunge in the second quarter while Fitzgerald tacked on a four-yard run in the opening stanza.
 
The Rangers will now turn their attention to a Lake Highlands team that is ranked No. 15 in the most recent Dallas Morning News area rankings. No. 17 Jesuit will aim to stay unbeaten at home this year against a Wildcats offense that has put up over 50 points in each of their first two district games. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1 at Postell Stadium.