Two Big Wins for Jesuit New Orleans
Two Big Wins for Jesuit New Orleans
New Orleans Jesuit wrapped up a good week with two wins, beating HCYA and East Jefferson over the weekend.
This puts the Blue Jay rugby squad in as, currently, the top team in both the Louisiana Cup and the Texas/Louisiana Varsity Cup. The Blue Jays have lost only one league match across both competitions and hold an overall league record of 7-1. In those matches, they have scored 267 points while allowing just 70.
This past weekend, the Jays faced a demanding doubleheader: a Varsity Cup league match against the HCYA Raptors followed immediately by a clash with the East Jefferson Warriors. With several players unavailable due to injuries, retreats, and college visits, Jesuit had to dig deep to field two competitive sides—and they rose to the challenge.
In the first match, a youthful Blue Jay lineup took on the Texas challengers. Freshman scrumhalf Jackson Cashio, making his varsity debut, opened the scoring with a gutsy run through the Raptor defense. Senior captain and flanker Frank Finicle powered in for the second try, quickly followed by a third dotted down by senior prop Ian Miranda. HCYA responded with three consecutive tries, suddenly taking a narrow 19–17 lead. For a moment, the outcome seemed in doubt.
But a wave of fresh substitutions reignited Jesuit’s attack, and they closed the match with five unanswered tries. Senior halfback Jonah Ory tallied two, including a scintillating 70-meter solo run that saw him shake-n-bake and shake again three defenders and outrun two more. Junior center Tucker Graham added another with raw speed, and senior forward Carter Kennedy stiff-armed his way across the line. Final score: Jesuit 43, HCYA 19.
Minutes later, another Blue Jay squad took the field against the East Jefferson Warriors, who were eager to avenge their two losses to the Jays last season. Jesuit, however, was determined to show the Warriors neither quarter nor comfort. Senior wing Adnan Odeh wasted no time, streaking in for two early tries. Captain Frank Finicle added his second try of the day, followed by another from senior hooker James Cangelosi. Junior center Tucker Graham continued his impressive day with two more blistering scores, while senior 8-man Evan Couillard and sophomore hooker Pete Scalise each found gaps in the Warriors’ defense to dot down tries. Finally, and cementing his spot as star of the day, halfback Jonah Ory scored two more tries—bringing his total to four across just 60 minutes of play. Ory played just 60 minutes—15 against HCYA and 45 against East Jefferson—during which he treated spectators to a dazzling display of champagne rugby.
All eyes now shift to March 29, when the Jays travel to Houston to face Strake Jesuit in their final Varsity Cup league match. A victory should cement the Jays’ place as top seed in the pending Varsity Cup south division playoffs. Strake Jesuit is targeting the same.
