After surrendering 50-plus points in each of its first two games, Jesuit Dallas was looking for an improved defensive effort Friday as it wrapped up its non-district slate.
The Rangers got just that, and picked up their first win in the process, securing a 31-14 triumph at home over Forney.
Jesuit held Forney scoreless over the final three quarters of action and closed the game on a 24-0 run.
“Our defense played really well,” said Brandon Hickman, Jesuit head coach. “You have to give it to our defensive coaches with the job they did. They made huge adjustments at halftime. We really flew to the ball and had a lot of hats on people. Forney is very athletic, and we did a great job of gang-tackling.”
Offensively, the Rangers showed their versatility, scoring on lengthy drives as well as quick strikes while rushing for 152 yards and throwing for 228.
Ty Daboub found the end zone three times for Jesuit, finishing with 124 yards on 19 carries.
Quarterback J.P. Livingstone completed 16-of-22 passes, including an 81-yard strike to Joseph Konings with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter that gave Jesuit its first lead of the night at 21-14.
Konings would finish with eight receptions for 180 yards, including 170 in the opening two quarters.
“J.P. made a great throw and Joseph was able to break a couple tackles and got in,” Hickman said. “I thought that was a big momentum shifter because we were getting the ball to start the second half. We knew if we could get a score and steal another possession in the second half, that was going to help us.”
The score helped overcome what had been a slow start for the Rangers.
After surrendering a 96-yard return for a touchdown to Forney’s Tra Henson on the opening kickoff, the Jackrabbits went ahead, 14-7, on their second possession when Taylor Henley scampered to the end zone from 16 yards out.
The Rangers had previously drawn even at seven apiece on a 1-yard touchdown run by Daboub, who would later answer Forney’s second score again from one yard out to knot the score at 14-14.
Konings then gave Jesuit the lead heading to the second half, a half that Rangers dominated, capping the victory with Daboub’s third rushing touchdown after Jud Harris notched a sack on a Forney fourth-down attempt.
Ben Phillips also had a sack as Jesuit recorded 14 tackles-for-loss in the game.
“[The second half] was great to see,” Hickman said. “We preached playing four quarters all week. We played two-and-a half quarters against Rockwall. We needed to play four tonight and we did.”
Jesuit will look to move to .500 on the season when it opens up District 6-6A action at 7 p.m. Friday at Princeton.
“This was big for us,” Hickman said. “We played two really good teams to start. We didn’t play great our first game, but in the second week we played better. We wanted to continue to build on that and improve. Now we’re pretty battle-tested and can roll into this district with some momentum.”
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