The JV Marauders lost their non-league opener 28-14 to Folsom High School in a hard fought battle Friday night.  Jesuit kicked the ball off, and Folsom returned the ball to their own 44 yard line.  After a quick first down,  Folsom stalled under a powerful blitz from Noah Clay, Cash Taylor, and others that brought down Folsom’s QB.  Jesuit took the ball over on downs.

The Marauder’s drive started with a ten yard run to the right side by Gage Johnson.  Then, Ace Saca ran to the opposite side for another 12 yards and dipped inside a few plays later for 9 more yards.   Jesuit’s offence looked like it was firing on all cylinders.  However, the drive sputtered near the Folsom twelve yard line and the Bulldogs took over on downs.

It was Folsom’s turn to drive the ball the length of the field, but Sebastian Torres knocked the ball out of a Bulldog receiver’s hand near the 16 yard line and Jesuit recovered.  However, a high snap on an attempted punt by Jesuit resulted in a Folsom touchdown.  Folsom 7-0.

After the kickoff, Chris Thorn ran it himself for good yardage and passed it to Gage Johnson for nine more yards.  Then, Noah Clay ran untouched for 36 yards, triggered by blocks from offensive linemen James Econome, Tucker Johnstone, and Nick Swanson.  Jesuit attempted a field goal near the 20 yard line but the ball hooked left.

Folsom took over and started moving the ball again, until Keleki Latu registered a huge sack on the Bulldog’s QB.  Folsom punted the ball back to Jesuit.   Jesuit could not move the ball and punted it right back.  After Matt Bettencourt recoded his own sack, Folsom caught the Marauders with a nifty screen play that went 84 yards for a touchdown.  The extra point failed.  With 3 minutes left in the half, it was Folsom 13 – Jesuit 0.

Jesuit started their next drive on their own 35 yard line.  Chris Thorn ran the ball 70+ yards in for a touchdown, but it was called back for a block to the back.  Folsom intercepted the ball and made a long pass to set up another touchdown.  Folsom 21 – Jesuit 0 at the end of the half.

Jesuit punted on the first drive of the second half, but Declan Mitchell got the ball right back for the Marauders with a nice stretch for an interception in single coverage.  Hunter Hastings caught a 14 yard pass from Thorn, followed up by a 12 yard pass to Noah Clay.  Ace Saca then skirted ahead 12 yards.  It amounted to another productive drive that ended one yard short of a first down.  Folsom took back over on downs.

Folsom’s drive was stopped by Big Red’s blitz, and the Bulldogs punted it away.  Thorn rolled left and tossed a string to Keleki  Latu for 15 yards.  A few plays later Thorn hit a streaking Matt Bettencourt for a 76 yard touchdown.  It was Jesuit’s first touchdown of the season!  Ryan Young kicked the extra point. It was 21-7 Folsom.

Folsom answered with a 54 yard pass to the Jesuit 3 yard line.  Two plays later the Bulldogs ran in for the TD.  28-7 Folsom.

Noah Clay ran hard through a narrow lane for a 56 yard gain.  Gage Johnson caught Thorn’s second TD pass.  The game ended with a final score Folsom 28 – Jesuit 14.  It was a promising start for Jesuit’s JV team against the top program in the region.

Marauder Stats:

Passing Leader:  Chris Thorn – 8/17 – 154 yards

Rushing Yards Leader:  Noah Clay – 97 yards

Receiving Yards Leader:   Matt Bettencort – 76 yards

Tackles Leader:  Keleki Latu – 9 total tackles