Jesuit (Florida) rides playmaking of Willy Suarez in win over Armwood

Suarez led the Tigers with four touchdowns in an upset win over the No. 13-ranked Hawks

TAMPA, FLORIDA- Sitting at 1-2 and not having won a game since Aug. 25, things just didn't seem quite right over at Jesuit High School. 

It feels like years ago since the Tigers were hoisting the Class 6A state championship and in fact, it was just back in the 2021 season. 

With SBLive Florida's No. 13-ranked team Armwood coming to Corral Memorial Stadium Friday night, it was put up or shut up for Jesuit. They decided to put up against one of the state's top teams. 

Behind a shutdown defensive effort in the second half and the playmaking abilities of athlete Willie Suarez, the Tigers narrowly edged out Armwood 28-21. Jesuit improves to 2-2 on the season, handing Armwood its first loss of 2023. 

Suarez found the endzone in the first quarter when the tailback ran it in for the game's first touchdown, a 5-yard scamper. Trailing 7-0, the Hawks responded with a 43-yard touchdown pass from freshman Rhys Brush to Mekhi Anderson to tie things up at 7-apiece. 

Armwood (4-1) would retake the lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Girard Pringle to go up 14-7.  A lot had been said about the vaunted rushing attack of the Hawks and though the Tigers have been gashed for yards this season, the defense stepped up in order to win. Jesuit held Pringle to 108 yards on 23 touches. 

It would be Suarez again finding pay dirt on a 34-yard touchdown sprint to knot the game up at 14-all. Brush found Anderson (six catches, 116 yards) one more time before halftime to give Armwood the 21-14 edge at intermission. 

It was the second half that ultimately lost the game for Armwood as they were held to just 26 yards of offense and finished the game with 279. Brush ended up completing 10-of-17 passing for 147 yards and two touchdowns. 

Jesuit took the lead for good with 11:42 remaining in the game, when Suarez would score on a dazzling 32-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers ahead 28-21. 

Suarez ended the night with nine carries for 88 yards, four touchdowns and added six catches for 74 yards. Tigers' quarterback Will Griffin finished the night completing 14-of-30 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. 

---

Florida football 2023 rankings for Class 4M-1M & Class 4S-1S/1R: Week 5

Top 50 Week 5 Florida high school football games to watch

Watch: Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith makes incredible one-handed grab

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl