Quick start carries Jesuit past Cavs

Jesuit scores on its first six drives and holds off Clackamas for a 48-28 victory

By Bill Wilson

The Beaverton Valley Times, Sep 5, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

JAIME VALDEZ / The Beaverton Valley Times

Crusader senior quarterback Scott Williams scrambles for a first down in the opening possession of Jesuit's 48-28 win over Clackamas.

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CLACKAMAS — While Clackamas got its feet wet for the first time this football season, Jesuit kept its moving — often not stopping until reaching the end zone.

The Crusaders scored touchdowns on all six of their first-half possessions and fought off a game Cavalier effort in the second half to move to 2-0 with a 48-28 victory on Friday at Clackamas High School.

“We definitely played better this week,” said Jesuit defensive lineman Matt Dummer, who had 1½ sacks. “But every week we need to get better. We still have a lot to improve upon, starting with the second half.”

Coming off a 52-20 thrashing of 2007 state runner-up Tualatin in Zero Week, Jesuit continued to pile up points in a multitude of ways against the Cavaliers, who couldn’t overcome a slow start in their season opener.

Junior Keanon Lowe caught a touchdown pass, ran for another and brought back a kickoff 94 yards to pay dirt, all in the first half as the Crusaders charged ahead 41-14 by halftime.

Having fallen behind 21-0, Clackamas found its footing and eventually closed to 41-28 when junior defensive back Jeanna Lifungula scooped up a fumble and bolted 65 yards for a touchdown with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game.

Jesuit recovered an onside kick and answered with a scoring drive, putting down the Cavaliers’ comeback bid.

“I was definitely nervous the first few drives,” said Clackamas quarterback Ben Parsons, behind center in 2008 after catching passes from graduated standout Ryan Cook last year. “We calmed down and played better at the end. The way we finished, if we can play that way at the beginning, we’ll be hard to stop.”

Jesuit was as much in the first half. The Crusaders went 82 yards on their opening drive, capped by senior Anthony Blake’s 7-yard touchdown run.

In contrast, the Cavaliers’ first two possessions went backward. And the speedster Lowe went to work. He caught a Scott Williams’ pass in stride on the left side of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown then shot around the corner and down the sideline 41 yards off a reverse for another score and 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Clackamas finally answered the bell when Parsons found senior receiver Matt Nylen, who finished with 139 yards on nine catches, over the middle on a 27-yard touchdown.

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