F LY I N G W I T H T H E J AY S
Football Wins District, Takes Runner-Up at State
F
rom confident resolve to unexpected excitement, the 2021 Jesuit football season provided every kind of emotion for players and fans alike. When the exhilarating season came to its end, the Blue Jays (10-1) boasted an undefeated regular season record, a district title, and a state runner-up finish. In the first year of the Ryan Manale era, a new chapter started for Jesuit football. With a mix of veteran seniors and feisty underclassmen, the Jays demonstrated an explosive offense and a durable defense as they shattered expectations. Whether battling in the trenches or throwing the ball down field, this team showed tremendous versatility that allowed it to win highly contested games down the stretch. “The expectation was to bring a winning culture on and off the field and to compete in our district,” coach Manale said. “Words cannot describe the impact this team has made on me and how proud I am of this group for bringing back excellence.” In the beginning of the year, Jesuit showcased its superior offensive prowess by defeating Riverdale, Holy Cross, and St. Augustine by a combined score of 145-19. As a part of the offensive onslaught, senior quarterback Jack Larriviere connected with junior receiver Jace Larsen for a 24 | J A Y N O T E S | F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 1
96-yard touchdown during the Holy Cross game, breaking the record for the longest play in Jesuit history, which was set last year when Max Milano ’21 caught an 89-yard pass from Luke LaForge ’21. Before Milano’s reception, the record had stood since 1954. In those games, the offense was led by Larsen and Larriviere. No matter the situation, the combo maintained a bountiful connection throughout the season that led to crucial first downs and long touchdowns. The intimidating defensive front consisting of seniors Joseph Barnett and Andrew Besh
never let any opposing quarterback or running
back feel comfortable. When anyone did make it past the two-headed monster, senior linebackers Jake Cannizzaro and Dennis Dougherty and junior Dominic LoGiudice stopped them in their tracks. While Jesuit put together some impressive numbers, the regular season matchups against rivals John Curtis and Brother Martin came down to the wire. In the earlier of the two matchups, Jesuit faced Brother Martin, hoping to defeat the Crusaders for the first time since 2014. A defensive battle ensued, and regulation was not long enough to crown a victor. After the third overtime, Brother Martin claimed the hardfought victory by a score of 21-14 at Tad Gormley Stadium.
