Dominant second half pushes Jesuit in state semifinal

By Rick Cantor
Staff writer

TAMPA – Largo came into the Class 3M region final game against Jesuit with one of the most prolific defenses in Tampa Bay, having allowed 20 points just once on the season and recording five shutouts.

On Friday night, the Tigers gave the Packers a taste of their own medicine.

Jesuit exploded for four second half touchdowns to break away from Largo 31-0, and advance to the state semifinals for the fifth consecutive season – a run that includes the 2021 5A state championship.
The game lived up to its defensive billing in the first half as an interception by Largo senior Ricky Shaw and a fumble recovery by junior edge Adarius Hayes thwarted promising Jesuit drives. Just before the half ended though, freshman signal caller Will Griffin connected on a 45-yard toss to Bryson Goodwin to set up a short Jack Ferreri field goal for the only points of the half.

“We knew coming in, their defense was one of the better defenses that we would see,” said Jesuit head coach Matt Thompson.

Largo started the second half looking to control the clock and keep the Tiger offense off the field. The Packers were doing just that, having chewed up almost seven minutes on twelve plays when Jesuit junior linebacker Drew Woodaz dropped back in coverage and used his 6-foot 3 frame to snag a ball thrown over the middle to stem the tide and change the momentum of the game.

Jesuit’s Drew Woodaz.

“We know we have playmakers on offense like Jo (Joquez Smith), Bryson (Goodwin), and (Jarriett) Buie,” said Woodaz. “Our coaches just preach getting stops because we know if we do, the offense will figure it out.”

And the offense did figure it out.

A few plays later, Griffin (8-for-13, 155 yards) would hit Goodwin (four receptions, 92 yards) again, this time for a 16-yard score and giving the Tigers a 10-point lead.

Jesuit’s Bryson Goodwin.

“It was supposed to be a post, but the safety was over the top, so I cut it flat, and Will found me,” said Goodwin. “We just needed to get something started. We’ve started slow sometimes this year, but once we get our wheels spinning, we keep going.”

If Goodwin’s score took the wind out of Largo’s sails, Smith’s 36-yard touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter was the back-breaker. The senior Temple commit (who finished with 22 carries for 99 yards) added a second touchdown just over three minutes later and the scoreboard showed no sign of the heavyweight brawl that occurred through the first three quarters.

Seldom used sophomore Justin Thurman even got into the action, ripping off a 69-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

While their offense came to life in the second half, the Tiger defense was dominant all game, allowing just 113 yards.

“We played good defense all night. We really only gave up one big play,” said Thompson. “And then we made some adjustments at halftime, and were able to run the ball.”

The Tigers will await the results of Saturday’s contest between Orlando Edgewater and Orlando Jones to determine if they will play Edgewater or Fort Lauderdale- St. Thomas Aquinas in the state semifinals as teams are reseeded based on the final FHSAA regular season power rankings.

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