Ranger Field Report

Rangers Win Instant Classic at The Boneyard: The rivalry between Jesuit Dallas and Lake Highlands has seen several unforgettable classics unfold throughout the years, and Friday's matchup at Wildcat-Ram Stadium was no exception. In a game filled with big plays and unforgettable performances, a 25-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Noah McGough and a key defensive stop was the difference as Jesuit Dallas upended Lake Highlands, 32-31.

Senior Charlie Schmidt completed 14-of-26 passes for 248 yards, a touchdown and interception, adding a team-best 19 carries for 30 yards and a score. On the first play from scrimmage, Schmidt tossed the ball out to senior Jake Musso, who threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to senior Luke Fawcett to give Jesuit an early 6-0 lead. Schmidt then completed a two-point conversion to Musso, giving Jesuit a critical, one-point lead that would prove circumstantial down the stretch. Musso would finish an all-around stellar evening with seven receptions for 94 yards and an electric diving touchdown catch, adding six rushes for 18 yards and the touchdown pass. Junior Cooper Cutler racked up a season-high 108 yards, including a career-best 78 yard reception on Jesuit's second offensive scrimmage, while Fawcett tacked on two catches for 67 yards.

Senior Luke Buckner scored his first career defensive touchdown on a 69-yard fumble recovery, collecting the loose ball at the Jesuit 31-yard line and racing into the end zone to give Jesuit an eight point lead early in the second quarter. Senior Roark Holman and junior Fredrick Lucky each secured the first interceptions of their career, with Holman's coming in the end zone late in the second quarter and Lucky's following in the third quarter. Buckner would lead the team with eight tackles on the night, followed by senior Grant Peters and junior Grayson Wombacher, who each recorded six tackles. Seniors Blake Miller, Jameson Kemp and junior Chris Simington made four stops apiece.

Rangers Aim to Keep Irving ISD Streak Alive: Jesuit Dallas has won 11 consecutive games against members of Irving ISD (Irving, MacArthur, Nimitz), and are 11-1 against Irving ISD since 2016. The 2022-24 alignment also marks the third time in the last five alignments that Jesuit Dallas and Irving ISD were placed in the same district.

Up Next: Jesuit will travel to Highlander Stadium on Friday, Sept. 30 for a highly anticipated matchup against Highland Park. The contest will pit Jesuit Dallas against a Scots team that is ranked seventh in the area and also ranked No. 10 in the state according to Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Scouting the Tigers

Scouting Irving: The Tigers are currently 0-1 in district play and 1-2 on the season following a 63-0 setback to Highland Park on Sept. 16. Irving secured a 33-21 win over South Garland on Sept. 2 for its first win of the season following a 16-7 loss to Fort Worth Paschal in the season opener. Sophomore quarterback Connor Martin currently leads the team in both rushing and passing, as Martin has 176 passing yards and two passing touchdowns to his credit alongside 153 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Kyle Sampson has caught two receiving touchdowns this year and enters week five with 12 catches for 169 yards while junior Aiden Benavidez has carried the ball a team-high 40 times for 118 yards and touchdown this season.

Players to Watch: Defensive end Victor Cantarero impressed last season, racking up 75 tackles and 12 sacks during his sophomore campaign. In the backfield, senior Jose Diaz returned to the fray following a 55-tackle campaign in 2021.

Munoz on the Rise: Irving head coach David Munoz enters his second season at Irving and will look to continue the Tigers' upward momentum after Irving snapped a 33-game losing streak last season, finished 2-8 and secured a district win over Richardson.

On the Horizon: Irving will continue its district run with a home game against Berkner next week, followed by a road matchup against Richardson. Last season, Irving dropped a 34-7 decision to Berkner on Sept. 23 and defeated Richardson, 12-9.

The Last Time They Met

Jesuit Dallas scored 61 seconds after kickoff, controlled the game from wire-to-wire and earned the outright district championship for the first time since 2016 with a dominating, 44-0 win over Irving on Oct. 28 at Ranger Stadium. The contest, originally scheduled to take place at Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium in Irving, was moved to Jesuit after a power outage in Irving, and the Rangers adjusted to the sudden change by holding the Tigers to 59 total offensive yards while securing their second straight shutout and third of the season.

Senior Gage Roy threw four touchdowns for the second consecutive game, hitting senior Hunter Krepp for a pair of scores along with junior Luke Fawcett. Roy finishe the game 10-of-12 in pass attempts with 192 yards, Krepp added a pair of receptions for 90 yards and Fawcett caught three passes for a pair of touchdowns. Senior Robert Fitzgerald added a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter that added to his all-around pedigree exhibited throughout the season. Senior Landon Usry led the team in rushing with 38 yards, followed by 32 rushing yards from junior Charlie Schmidt, who scored an eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Sophomore Dylan Drennan added a 28-yard field goal to close out the Rangers' scoring  with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Senior Evan Bare, junior Luke Selner and sophomore Matthew Toker picked up four tackles each while senior Ryan Allred and junior Jameson Kemp each picked up a sack. Allred added a fumble recovery and junior Luke Buckner snagged an interception for the Rangers.

In 2020...

Jesuit dominated in all three facets of the game, jumping out to a 23-0 first quarter lead en route to securing its second straight shutout, 53-0, over Irving H.S. on Nov. 25 afternoon at Ranger Stadium. Jesuit clinched the top seed in UIL District 7-6A Division II with the win, guaranteeing a home game in the playoffs, behind another incredibly strong all-around performance.

The Ranger defense was led by a slew of senior Rangers that made major impacts. Senior Pierce Jackson led the team with nine tackles, followed by eight stops from senior Major Kent and six from senior Jack Judson. Senior Ryan Graham posted six tackles while senior Sy Mendenhall racked up five stops, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a safety. Senior Michael Esteve forced a fourth quarter fumble recovered by junior Charlie Freeman, and junior Ryan Allred blocked a third quarter punt that led to a safety.

Junior quarterback Gage Roy was a perfect 6-for-6 behind center, throwing for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Roy connected on a 17-yard strike to senior Charlie Cook on Jesuit's first drive of the game, added a 49-yard touchdown pass to junior Hunter Krepp near the end of the first quarter and jumpstarted the Jesuit offense in the third with a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior Charlie Clements.

Around the District (Recaps Provided by Dallas Morning News): 

Highland Park 63, Irving 0: Jay Cox scored six first-half touchdowns as Highland Park dominated on both sides of scrimmage during a 63-0 win over Irving. Cox scored on a 12-yard run on the first snap for Highland Park (4-0, 2-0 District 7-6A), which capitalized on favorable field position while rolling to a 49-0 halftime lead. Cox reached the end zone on five of his six carries in the game, which totaled 43 yards. In addition to capping all four of Highland Park's first-quarter possessions with touchdowns, he returned a punt 67 yards for a score. Irving (1-2, 0-1) managed just 42 total yards and did not cross midfield until early in the fourth quarter. Highland Park scored on its first seven drives, the last of which culminated in a long touchdown pass from Brennan Storer to Luke Herring.

Berkner 45, Pearce 14: Cornell McGee IV passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Richardson Berkner to a 45-14 win over Richardson Pearce in a District 7-6A game at Eagle-Mustang Stadium. McGee completed eight passes for 191 yards, which including touchdown throws of 63 yards to Tre Randle, and 33 yards to Jayden Hernandez. He also scored the game's opening touchdown on a 27-yard run to help Richardson Berkner (2-2, 2-0) get ahead. Jamary Williams led Richardson Berkner's rushing attack with 159 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown. He also caught a 75-yard pass from Demarcus Calhoun for a touchdown in the first quarter. Calhoun finished the night with 101 yards of total offense for Richardson Berkner, while Presley Harper completed 12-of-23 pass attempts for 109 yards to lead Richardson Pearce (0-4, 0-2).

Richardson 50, Nimitz 7: Howard Armstrong accounted for 136 total yards, passed for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Richardson (2-2, 1-1) past Irving Nimitz (0-4, 0-3) 50-7 in a District 7-6A game at Eagle-Mustang Stadium. Cole Cage split quarterbacking duties with Armstrong and rushed for one score while passing for another. Miles Buckley led the Richardson ground game with 89 yards, including touchdowns from 2 and 4 yards. Richardson dominated all aspects of this game. Its offense held a 416-212 edge in total yards as six different players scored touchdowns. Its defense allowed only three pass completions while intercepting one and recording a safety. Its special teams unit stopped one kickoff return at the Nimitz 5, and later recovered an onside kick. Ashton Thompson was the leading ball carrier for Nimitz, rushing for 106 yards. The Nimitz touchdown came on a 16-yard pass from Pedro Maldonado to Christopher Hernandez.