Jesuit tops FHS, 56-21
Published 10:59 pm Friday, October 28, 2016
By Andrew Canulette
For The Daily News
NEW ORLEANS — There are some similarities between the Franklinton and Jesuit football teams.
Both have a winning tradition, and both have some standout players this season. The teams also shared the same 4-4 record coming into Friday’s non-district game at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park.
The biggest difference between the teams on Friday was on the scoreboard — and what a difference it was.
Jesuit stormed to a 35-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and eased to a 56-21 victory over Franklinton.
Franklinton entered ranked 21st in the unofficial Class 4A power rankings. Jesuit was ranked ninth in the Select Division I unofficial listings.
But the Blue Jays were dominant against the Demons, and the first quarter quickly got out of hand. Connor Prouet ran for two first quarter touchdowns, and Matt Mcmahon gathered a blocked punt and ran to the endzone from 29 yards out. The third extra point of the quarter by Jake Chanove followed, and it gave Jesuit a 21-0 advantage with 2:19 remaining in the first quarter.
Franklinton (4-5) seemed stunned by the Jesuit attack, especially on special teams and defense. While the Blue Jays rolled up a three-touchdown edge, the high-scoring Demons could muster only 14 yards of offense in the same stretch. Magee, one of the state’s most prolific offensive threats, could find no running room against the larger Jesuit defensive line, and his receivers were blanketed on the edges.
The Demons didn’t record their initial first down until early in the second quarter. By then, Prouet had run for two more touchdowns, and he added a fifth on a 19-yard pass with 41 seconds remaining in the first half. The score and ensuing extra point made the score 42-7 heading into the break.
Prouet finished with six total touchdowns — five rushing and one receiving. He ran 18 times for 91 yards and caught two balls for 65 yards.
Franklinton’s three touchdowns were connections from Magee to Darius Dawson. Magee hit his receiver on a 16-yard scoring pass with 4:05 to go in the half, and again from 4 yards with 1:46 to go in the third quarter. They connected one final time with 2:28 remaining in the game, this time from 12 yards.
Magee finished 26-of-37 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Dawson caught 12 balls for 97 yards. The majority of Franklinton’s 293 yards of offense came after halftime, when the outcome long had been decided.
“We gave up 28 points on punt team,” Franklinton coach Stephen Burris said. “That kills everything. It kills intensity. We’ve been struggling on special teams all year, and punt team was the only thing we were doing well on special teams. Not tonight.”
Franklinton ends the regular season next week against Pearl River in a District 8-4A finale.