Quick Notes - Jesuit Dallas:

• The Rangers return to play following their bye week, aiming for their fourth district win of the season. Jesuit most recently dropped a 35-28 bout to Highland Park on Sept. 30.

• Jesuit has won nine straight against Berkner, dating back to the 2007 season.

• Current team leaders include senior Cameron Martin (267 rushing yards), senior Charlie Schmidt (1,155 pasing yards) and senior Jake Musso (509 receiving yards).

• The Rangers scored on 9-of-11 red zone chances over the last three weeks.

Quick Notes - Berkner: 

• Berkner enters a key Friday matchup against Jesuit looking for its third district win of the season. The Rams dropped a 38-17 bout to Highland Park on Oct. 6, and most recently defeated Irving, 31-0, on Sept. 30.

• The Rams are powered by a rushing attack that is led by Jamary Williams, who has 119 carries this season for 639 yards and four touchdowns. Kaden Alcorn has secured 358 yards and three touchdowns.

Players to Watch • Week Eight:

Charlie Schmidt - Sr. - QB

Finished the Highland Park game with 227 passing yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-44 completions, 66 rushing yardson 20 carries and a 22-yard reception...averages 3.4 yards per carry with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.

Jake Musso - Sr. - WR

Has the team's longest touchdown run of the year (76 yards vs. IRV), longest touchdown pass of the year (62 yards to L. Fawcett vs. LH), and the second-longest touchdown reception of the year (60 yards vs. HEB)...leads the team with 509 receiving yards (11.84 yards per catch)

Grayson Wombacher - Sr. - LB

Leads the team with 37 tackles...has recorded five or more tackles in four consecutive games after picking up six stops (two solo, four assisted) against HP...has 21 tackles over the last three games.

Cameron Martin - Sr. - RB

Leads the team in rushing with 267 yards, averaging 44.5 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry...scored touchdowns against J.J. Pearce (9/9) and Irving (9/23).

Blake Miller - Sr. - LB

Currently ranks second on the team with 34 tackles...has recorded eight tackles in back-to-back games, including a season-high four solo tackles last week against Highland Park (9/30).

Cooper Cutler - Jr. - WR

Has secured a reception of 25 yards or more in four of six games...recorded a season and career-high 106 yards against Lake Highlands (9/16)...added touchdowns against Hebron (8/26) and Irving (9/23).

Noah McGough - So. - K

Is 27-of-27 on extra point attempts this season and currently ranks third on the team in scoring with 33 points...averaging 48.0 yards per kickoff this season with eight touchbacks.

Week Eight by the Numbers

0 • Opponents are 0-for-2 in red zone scoring opportunities at Ranger Stadium this season. In the season opener, Hebron did not reach the red zone. J.J. Pearce and Irving both secured one red zone trip, but neither were able to reach pay dirt.

3 • Berkner's three wins this season have seen the Rams score 30 or more points. In their wins this year, Berkner defeated Richardson, 49-0 (Sept. 9), picked up a 45-14 win over Pearce (Sept. 16) and a 31-0 win over Irving (Sept. 30).

6 • Seniors Jake Musso and Charlie Schmidt have scored in all six games this season, as the two currently lead the team in total scoring. Musso currently has eight touchdowns and a point-after reception to his credit this year for 50 points, with Schmidt collective seven touchdowns and a pass point after attempt for 42 points.

9 • At Ranger Stadium this season, the Jesuit Dallas defense has only allowed nine points per game. The Rangers defeated Hebron, 35-7, upended J.J. Pearce, 40-13, and toppled Irving, 56-7.

13 • Heading into Friday's contest, Jesuit Dallas has captured 13 straight regular season wins at Ranger Stadium. The Rangers last lost a regular season game on Oct. 2, 2020, when the Blue and Gold dropped a bout to Rockwall.

18 • Jesuit's defensive back corps has broken up 18 passes over the last three weeks, led by senior Wililam Sahadevan, who has six pass breakups. In addition, the Blue and Gold has three interceptions, with picks recorded by senior Roark Holman alongside juniors Tristen Bird and Fredrick Lucky.

42 • Over the last three games, Jesuit Dallas has outscored opponents by 42 total points, 45-3, in the fourth quarter. The Rangers only yielded a field goal to Lake Highlands on Sept. 16, and shut out Irving and Highland Park in the fourth quarter.

46 • In their four victories this season, Jesuit Dallas has converted 46 percent (26-of-56) of third-down opportunities. The Rangers went 10-of-15 on third down against J.J. Pearce (Sept. 9) and, most recently, went 7-of-15 against Irving (Sept. 23).

Scouting the Rams: 

Berkner Falls to Highland Park: The Rams enter Friday's game with a 3-2 district record, most recently dropping a 38-17 decision to Highland Park on Oct. 7. Junior Jamary Williams led the way for the Rams, carrying the ball 25 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver Dameon Crowe recorded a team-high five receptions for 104 yards, and sophomore quarterback Cornell McGee IV has completed 8-of-15 passes for 123 yards.

Players to Watch: The Rams average 213 yards on the ground, with Williams racking up a team-leading 639 yards on 119 carries and junior Kaden Alcorn adding 358 yards and three touchdowns on 67 carries this season. Sophomore quarterback Cornell McGee IV has completed 48 percent of his passes this year for 546 yards and four touchdowns, and Crowe currently leads the team with 24 catches for 488 yards and three touchdowns.

Program History: Head coach Trey Bryant returns to the sidelines for his second season after leading Berkner to its first playoff berth since 2011 last season. The Rams finished the 2021 campaign with a 4-7 record and a 4-3 mark in district play. Berkner's deepest postseason run came in 2005, when the Rams finished the year with a 12-1 record, won the District 10-5A championship, and advanced to the third round of the postseason.

Around the Metroplex:

Recaps Provided by The Dallas Morning News

Highland Park 38, Berkner 17: Brennan Storer threw four touchdown passes to lead an efficient Highland Park offense in a 38-17 win over Richardson Berkner on Thursday at Wildcat-Ram Stadium. Storer's scoring passes went to four different receivers, including a 61-yarder to Grayson Schrank on the first play from scrimmage for Highland Park (6-0, 4-0 District 7-6A). Storer averaged more than 20 yards per completion. Jay Cox scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown for Highland Park, which built up a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and was never threatened. Luke Herring and Jackson Heis also caught scoring passes. After having two touchdowns called back by penalties in the first half, Richardson Berkner (3-4, 3-2) broke through in the third quarter on a short scoring plunge by Jamary Williams, who finished with a game-high 102 rushing yards. Richardson Berkner dominated time of possession with its run-based attack but committed 14 penalties. Freshman receiver Dameon Crowe was a bright spot with 104 yards.

Irving Nimitz 30, Irving 25: Pedro Maldonado hooked up with Christopher Hernandez for a 59-yard scoring strike in the final minute of the game as Irving Nimitz came back to defeat Irving 30-25 Thursday night at Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium. The win was the first of the season for Nimitz (1-6 overall, 1-4 in District 7-6A) and the fifth in a row against its crosstown rivals. Irving (1-5, 0-4) had taken the lead just minutes earlier when Patrick Banich booted a 25 yard field goal with 2:11 remaining to make it 25-24. But on a fourth-and-14, Maldonado, who threw for 201 yards and ran for 161 more, found Hernandez cutting between two defenders at the Irving 20 and hauled in the catch for the score with just 53 seconds left in the game. Defensive back Sakeivon Gordwin then intercepted a pass by Irving's Connor Martin in the final seconds to secure the win for Nimitz, which now leads the series with Irving, 27-22. Irving came into the game having scored just one touchdown total over its previous three games, but took a 22-17 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to two second quarter touchdown runs by David Perez. Zaylin Washington's 1-yard run midway through the third quarter regained the lead for Nimitz, 24-22, and set the stage for the exciting fourth-quarter finish.

J.J. Pearce 28, Richardson 14: Richardson Pearce running back Christian Baker rushed for 61 yards and three touchdowns, helping Pearce pick up its third-straight win with a 28-14 victory over cross-town rival Richardson in District 7-6A play on Thursday night at Eagle-Mustang Stadium. Richardson Pearce (3-4, 3-2 in 7-6A) led from the opening snap, getting two of Baker's touchdowns in the opening half for a 14-0 halftime lead. Pearce eventually pushed its lead to 28-0 midway through the third quarter on a 96-yard kick return by Jack McGarry and a 3-yard run by Baker. Richardson (2-4, 1-3) rallied back with a pair of scoring drives, cutting the deficit to 28-14 on a 17-yard pass by Cole Cage to Evan Tabora with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter. However the Pearce defense forced a pair of turnovers to help secure the game, including an interception by Clark Wilson with just over a minute remaining. Pearce's Andrew Casagrande rushed for a game-high 73 yards in the win, with Richardson's other touchdown coming in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Donovan Ford.

South Grand Prairie 66, Grand Prairie 17: A.J. Newberry rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns as South Grand Prairie rolled to a 66-17 win over rival Grand Prairie. South Grand Prairie (2-5, 2-1 District 8-6A) fumbled on its first play from scrimmage but scored on its next nine drives. After trailing 10-0 early, SGP tallied 42 consecutive points in a span of 15 minutes, including a blocked punt return for a touchdown by Darryon Jackson. SGP finished with 603 yards of total offense. SGP quarterback Jaden Stanley tossed two scoring passes and ran for a touchdown. His top target was Matthew Ramirez with 156 receiving yards and a score. Kelton Moore's 84 yards on five catches led Grand Prairie (0-7, 0-3), which struggled to move the ball consistently. Moore's brother Kevin caught a touchdown pass from Joshua Rico.

Arlington 57, Arlington Bowie 48: Arlington running back Drelon Burton rushed for five touchdowns and 170 yards in a 57-48 victory over Arlington Bowie in a 8-6A district matchup Friday night at Choctaw Stadium. In a back-and-fourth offensive contest, Arlington (4-2, 2-0 8-6A) reached the endzone in five of their six possessions in the first half. Three rushing touchdowns came courtesy of Burton, and quarterback Sam Semi threw for one touchdown and rushed for one touchdown. While both offenses exchanged scores throughout the second half, the Arlington offense was able to keep Arlington Bowie out of reach following a two-yard Burton rushing touchdown with 4:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Arlington offense finished the night with 655 total yards. Semi passed for 423 yards and two touchdowns, including 60 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Trailing 14-0 through the first quarter, Arlington Bowie's (4-3, 2-1 8-6A) offense scored 27 second quarter points and trailed 34-27 at halftime. Quarterback DeAngelo Ponder threw for three touchdowns and running back Darrion Bowers ran for a score. Arlington Bowie's offensive tallied 621 yards of total offense on the night. Ponder threw for 459 yards and four passing touchdowns, including 37 rushing yards and one touchdown. Receiver Rafeld Campbell caught two touchdown passes for 173 yards.

Arlington Lamar 36, Arlington Sam Houston 6: Running back Robert Brown's 157 rushing yards and two touchdowns led Arlington Lamar (2-4, 1-1 District 8-6A) to a 36-6 victory over Arlington Sam Houston (0-7, 0-3) on Friday night at Wilemon Field. Quarterback Gannon Carey used Brown's running attack to his advantage by having time to find his favorite target, wide receiver Darrick Bledsoe, all night long. Carey had 132 passing yards and three touchdowns, with Bledsoe catching two of those scores and finishing with 112 receiving yards. One of those scores came at the midway point of the 3rd quarter where Casey found Bledsoe for a 27-yard touchdown to make it 22-6 and avoid any potential comeback from Arlington Sam Houston. Arlington Sam Houston's only touchdown came right before that Bledsoe score in the third quarter where defensive back Kendrick Lee blocked a punt and recovered in the end zone.

The Last Time at Ranger Stadium:

The Jesuit Dallas football team pieced together an eyebrow-raising outing for its homecoming weekend crowd, scoring touchdowns on each of the first five drives of the game and holding Berkner to 105 total yards of offense for a 37-0 win over the Rams on Oct. 22, 2021 at Ranger Stadium.

Senior Gage Roy led the way for the Rangers, completing 18-of-24 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns. One of Roy's touchdown throws was an 86-yard catch-and-run to Hunter Krepp, which now stands as Jesuit's longest play from scrimmage this year. The performance is a season-high mark for Roy and is the second-highest yardage total by a Ranger quarterback since the 2018 season. Roy averages 257.2 yards per game during his career and now has 4,767 career cards to his credit over his two seasons behind center.

Krepp, who currently leads the district in receiving yards, caught five passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Senior Truett Whitley scored the first touchdown of his career, a 36-yard reception to open the scoring, and junior Reed Pfaffenberger crossed the goal line for the first time on varsity with a 20-yard checkdown catch-and-run in the second. Senior Robert Fitzgerald scored his team-leading 13th touchdown of the year with six carries for 51 yards.

The Jesuit defense held Berkner to 71 rushing yards and 34 passing yards, allowing less than three yards per play. Senior David Long picked up eight tackles and a pass breakup, senior Andrew Charlton recorded six stops, and Ryan Allred recorded a sack and five tackles. Senior Kyle Nolan and junior Grant Peters each forced a fumble while sophomore Connor Raney broke up two passes. Senior Evan Bare recorded a tackle for loss and Fitzgerald tacked on five tackles.

Up Next:

Jesuit Dallas will face a quick turnaround, as the Rangers will travel to Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium to battle Nimitz on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. Berkner will enter its bye week, then begin the homestretch of the season with a matchup against Nimitz on Oct. 28.