Jesuit (Florida) knocks off previously unbeaten Bishop Verot

The Tigers handed the Vikings their first loss of the season

TAMPA, FLORIDA- If you thought the Jesuit Tigers wouldn’t be able to bounce back from their early season woes, you may want to think again. 

After opening the season at 1-2 with back-to-back losses to Treasure Coast and Columbus, Matt Thompson’s crew are back on track. 

The Tigers needed late game heroics from sophomore quarterback Will Griffin as he found Willy Suarez for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute in a wild 36-29 win over previously undefeated Bishop Verot. 

Jesuit improved to 4-2 on the season while Bishop Verot dropped to 6-1. 

The Tigers opened up the scoring when Notre Dame commitment Justin Thurman (25 carries, 120 yards) scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to put Jesuit up 7-0. 

Powerful TD drive for the Tigers! Justin Thurman and the ground attack did most of the damage, and Thurman pounds it in for the score!

Anthony Iacano with the PAT, and Jesuit strikes first on its opening drive.

8:07 to go 1Q:

BV 0
Jesuit 7#AMDG pic.twitter.com/1P8NEz86jv

— Jesuit Tigers Football (@JesuitTigers_FB) October 6, 2023

Jesuit extended its advantage when Griffin (21-of-35, 285 yards) threw the first of his three touchdown passes on the night, a 23-yarder to wide receiver SJ Green. Armed with a 14-0 lead, it looked like the Tigers may begin to pull away in the first half. 

Just before halftime, Griffin would hookup with Suarez on a 44-yard touchdown connection to give Jesuit a commanding 28-7 lead at intermission. 

Bishop Verot would slowly find its way back into the game beginning with quarterback Carter Smith (7-of-18, 146 yards) walking in on a 1-yard touchdown run. Trailing 28-7, the Vikings began to chip away at Jesuit’s lead. 

Smith found wide receiver Matthew Turner on a 75-yard touchdown strike and converting the 2-point conversion to narrow the lead to 28-15. 

The Vikings nearly made the improbable comeback attempt feasible when they took a brief 29-28 lead with less than four minutes remaining. Turner hit Charles Watts on a 26-yard double pass touchdown, but Jesuit would get another opportunity. 

Griffin led the Tigers down the field and weather from poor tackling or just pure exhaustion, the quarterback found Suarez (five catches, 104 yards), who broke numerous would be tacklers for a 25-yard touchdown. Suarez’s score would come with 21 seconds left in the game, securing the win for Jesuit. 

HOW?!?! @w_griffin11 hits his go to man WR @Willy_Suarez3 and he wiggles out of 3?!? Maybe 4 tackles?!?! For this 25-yard TD on 4th Down!!!! With 0:21 remaining in the game @JesuitTigers_FB leads @BishopVerotFB 36-29. @Andy_Villamarzo @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/I6lbgU1Jo9

— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) October 7, 2023

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