By Jim Rapier
Varsity Sports Now
Week to week, the games in District 9-5A can be a grind during football season.
Every game is going to be a fight. How much of a fight?
Well, the top-5 teams, and seven of the top-10 teams in the Division I Select power ratings are all housed in District 9-5A. And in Division I Non-Select power ratings, Chalmette – also in District 9-5A, sits at 14th.
So yes, every game is going to be a fight.
That’s the mindset Jesuit coach Ryan Manale and Chalmette coach Jason Tucker shared as their teams prepare to clash Thursday night at 7:30, when Jesuit (4-1, 1-1), with a power rating of 5th in Division I Select, plays at Chalmette (3-2, 0-2) in game broadcasted on VSN.
https://www.varsitysportsnow.com/events/football-jesuit-vs-chalmette
The game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but it was moved to Thursday with the potential for bad weather moving into the New Orleans area.
“My initial thoughts are we moved this game up because of the potential for a storm and it’s one less day to prepare, especially for their (Chalmette) wing-T type offense, which is different than we’ve been seeing, Manale said. “They are well-coached, and I expect they (Chalmette) will come out and play us tough and look at the game as winnable, so I am expecting their best.”
Tucker echoed those sentiments when talking about Jesuit.
“First off, coach Manale has been around a long time, and I have a ton of respect for him, his team and his program,” Tucker said. “They have beaten some quality opponents this year. It’s a tough district we play in, and it’s another tough opponent (for us). It comes down to us and them.”
Both teams started the season strong. Jesuit defeated Madison Prep (3rd in Division II Select power rating) and St. Thomas More (6th in Division I Select power rating) to start the season. Chalmette rolled past its first three opponents (Ehret, Loranger, and Salmen) averaging scoring almost 47 points per game in that span. As district play began, so did the grind.
Jesuit fell to Brother Martin in the district opener but rebounded last week to defeat Holy Cross 33-6. Chalmette lost to Rummel and then St. Augustine in district play and scored 13 points combined in the two games.
“Jesuit has defeated some quality opponents, that tells you how good Jesuit is,” Tucker said. “Our kids are learning; it’s a tough district to play in, and they (Jesuit) are another tough opponent. … For our team, more than anything, it’s about eliminating mistakes.”
The Jesuit offense has seemingly been in a steady rhythm through the first half of the season, averaging 32.2 points per game and scoring at least 22 points in every game. Quarterback Sully Sullivan helped the Blue Jay offense take flight last week, as he
accounted for four touchdowns – three passing, one running (32 yards) – against Holy Cross.
Sullivan had company pacing the Jesuit offense. In last week’s game, Ja’ir Burks, hauled in four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, and Grant LeBeouf had three receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’re finding ways to get it done,” Manale said. “Each game has a different twist to it. Offensively, we just keep preparing each week, and whoever comes up with a big play everyone is excited. On defense it’s been kind of the same way. We’ve had some unsung heroes.”
Leading the Chalmette offense – described as gap-scheme by Tucker – is senior quarterback Breez Wilson. Twice this season the Owls have scored more than 50 points a game, and once the offense gets rolling it can be hard to stop. Manale knows that, hence his feelings about one less day to prepare for it. He said that just comes with the territory of playing tough opponents every week in District 9-5A.
“We know they (Chalmette) will be ready,” Manale said. … And now we get into that middle of the season and depth comes into play because we have some players a little banged up and we need others to step up.”