For the second time in the last four games, the Jesuit Rangers outcome hinged on a 2-point conversion attempt.
But unlike their Oct. 8 contest at Prosper Walnut Grove that ended in a thrilling 50-49 overtime upset thanks to a successful conversion, Jesuit this time could not convert with 16 seconds left in regulation, leaving the Rangers with a 35-34 setback to the McKinney in a District 6-6A matchup at Ranger Stadium.
A Jesuit senior night crowd was sent into a frenzy when wideout Joseph Konings managed to come down with a 39-yard touchdown – on a fourth-and-14 – from J.P. Livingstone to bring the Rangers to within one, 35-34. Konings came down with the ball that was tipped by him and several McKinney defenders in the end zone.
With no timeouts remaining, Jesuit lined up for two, a pass that just missed Konings outstretched arms.
McKinney recovered the ensuing Jesuit onside kick and one knee ended the see-saw affair that was deadlocked at seven, 14, 21, and 28 apiece,
“[There was] no hesitation about going for the win,” said Brandon Hickman, Jesuit head coach. “We weren’t able to get stops defensively and this was our best chance to come away with the victory.”
Hickman also credited McKinney for its performance.
“McKinney outplayed us,” he said. “Their running back (TJ Corbett) was electric, and we just could not stop him the entire game.”
Corbett turned in a monster performance for the Lions, accounting for all five touchdowns on runs of 15, 20, 21, 2 and 31 yards, finishing with 249 rushing yards on 32 carries.
His final 31-yard touchdown gallop with 2:31 remaining capped a 13-play, 88-yard march that chewed up 5:48 clock time and broke a 28-28 tie. Corbett seemed to be stopped running left, but reversed field and outraced the Ranger defenders for the score.
“That run typified our night trying to stop him,” Hickman said. “Even when it looked like we had him, he broke tackles. He is a real speedy back, not gonna catch him in the open field.”
The loss overshadowed a huge effort from Jesuit senior running back Ty Daboub, who ran for a career-high 194 yards on 26 carries, scoring three touchdowns on runs of 2, 15 and 6 yards, eclipsing the 100-yard plateau for the fifth time this season. That performance gives Daboub 944 rushing yards this season and 16 scores heading into the regular-season finale at Prosper Rock Hill.
Konings recorded nine receptions for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 3-yarder from Livingstone as time expired in the opening period that gave Jesuit a 7-0 advantage.
Livingstone was 21-for-38 for 182 yards and the two touchdown tosses to Konings, but did throw a pair of first-quarter interceptions.
McKinney (3-6, 2-4 in 6-6A) sophomore quarterback Blaze Barr completed 20-of-31 passes for 206 yards. Junior tight end Jayden Washington grabbed a team-leading seven catches for 69 yards.
This was just the fifth meeting between the two programs on the gridiron and Jesuit is now 0-4-1 versus McKinney.
This year’s defeat means that Jesuit (4-5, 4-3) is faced with a winner-take-all showdown at Prosper Rock Hill (5-4, 3-3) Thursday for the final district playoff spot. Allen, Prosper and Prosper Walnut Grove have clinched post-season berths.
The winner of the Jesuit-Rock Hill matchup, along with Walnut Grove, are slotted for Division II with Allen and Prosper bound for Division I.
“We just have to regroup and get ready on a short week and see how things shake out,” Hickman said.
Jesuit is seeking its eighth straight playoff berth.
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