John Tyler Runs Over Dallas Jesuit + Reaches Regional Semifinal Round In First 6A Season

MESQUITE -- John Tyler handed Dallas Jesuit its worst loss of the season, 69-21, Saturday at Mesquite's Memorial Stadium in the area round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs.

The Lions' reward is a Region II semifinal date against Klein Collins at 2 p.m. next Saturday inside Baylor's McLane Stadium in Waco. Collins, exactly like John Tyler, lost one regular season game by one point.

"I know they beat (Round Rock) Cedar Ridge," coach Ricklan Holmes said in reference to Collins after toppling Jesuit. "I do know that. We've got to make sure we do what we need to do this week as far as getting prepared to go against a very good and well-coached Klein Collins team."

It didn't take long for John Tyler (11-1) to assert its will in its second-round game. The last surviving East Texas team in 6A scored first and then broke a 7-7 tie with the game's next 48 points.

Jesuit (8-4) faced a 42-7 halftime deficit and trailed 55-7 midway through the third quarter.

Lions quarterback Bryson Smith, a Houston commitment, got mothballed after guiding the team to touchdowns on eight out of nine drives. He ran for four scores and threw a touchdown while sophomore running back Cameron Grant ran in three scores of his own.

"Teams try to contain Bryson, so the middle is usually open for me," Grant said. "The O-line makes the holes wider for me. Then, when I start hitting the holes and breaking, they focus in on me and there's room for Bryson. It's like a two-headed monster back there."

John Tyler's defense forced Jesuit into three first-half punts and a turnover on downs. A fifth drive was spoiled at midfield by cornerback Kieran Freeman's interception with three seconds left in the half.

Jesuit's only successful drive in critical time was its first. John Wunderlick broke a 26-yard run.

A second-team offensive lag and two consecutive Jesuit touchdowns against an uninspired defense persuaded Holmes to put Smith back into the game to re-establish the margin he left the game with.

Wunderlick had scored a second and final time from 48 yards and quarterback Jacob Palisch had connected with running back Evan Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Inserted back into the lineup with about a minute to play in the third quarter until the 8:32 mark of the fourth, Smith threw a second touchdown and finished the game with a passing line of 18-of-26 for 237 yards. He also got the final of 167 yards on 11 carries through the game for 404 total yards in about three quarters of work overall.

An interception was charged to Smith, but the pass was misplayed and deflected by a receiver.

Grant finished his day with 51 yards on 12 carries. Three of his first seven runs were touchdowns.

Backup running back Victor Campbell Jr. ended up outgaining Grant with 82 yards on eight carries. He scored the game's final points on a 42-yard run.

"It goes back to what we preach the kids," Holmes said. "We've got to start out strong and fast. That's what we did the first half of the game. We just have to make sure we continue that after halftime."

Collins will enter the showdown versus John Tyler at Baylor with the strongest defense the Lions have encountered. It has allowed seven points or less in eight of its 11 wins. A ninth opponent to take a loss was held to nine points.

Katy, the defending 6A Division II state champion, handed Collins its only loss in Week 2. The score was 50-49 after overtime.

"Only the best teams practice on Thanksgiving," Grant said. "That's what we live for. We'll know a lot more about them on Monday. That's when we start watching film on them. We'll game plan and, I'm telling you, we'll  have a hard week of practice."

John Tyler 69, Dallas Jesuit 21

Class 6A Division II Area Round Playoff Game

At Memorial Stadium, Mesquite

Dallas Jesuit             7         0         14        0    --      21
John Tyler                21       21       13       14    --     69

First Quarter
JT--Cameron Grant 3 run (Devan Salazar kick), 10:42
JES--John Wunderlick 26 run (Israel Ollarzabal kick), 8:07
JT-- Bryson Smith 22 run (Salazar kick), 6:37
JT--Smith 15 run (Salazar kick), 2:21
Second Quarter
JT--Grant 23 run (Salazar kick), 9:29
JT--Grant 4 run (Salazar kick), 3:40
JT--Smith 8 run (Salazar kick), :50
Third Quarter
JT--Smith 38 run (Salazar kick), 10:43
JT--Devlen Woods 2 pass from Smith (kick blocked), 6:30
JES--Wunderlick 23 run (Jacob Palisch run), 5:17
JES--Evan Jackson 22 pass from Palisch (pass failed), 1:12
Fourth Quarter
JT--Javion Williams 1 pass from Smith (Salazar kick), 11:11
JT--Victor Cambell Jr. 42 run (Salazar kick), 8:32

                                        JES                  JT
First Downs                       22                    28
Total Yards                       355                 579
Rushes-Yards              32-151               39-324
Passing Yards                  204                  255
Comp.-Att.-Int.              17-43-3           20-31-2
Punts-Avg.                     6-33.2               1-54
Fumbles-Lost                    2-1                  1-0
Penalties-Yards                9-72               10-93

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Jesuit, John Wunderlick 9-98, Evan Jackson 8-48, Jacob Palisch 9-14, Jake Tabor 1-5, Parker Towns 1-(-14). John Tyler, Bryson Smith 11-167, Victor Campbell Jr. 8-82, Cameron Grant 12-51, Roderick Hawkins 3-20, Damion Miller 1-14, Devlen Woods 3-(-4), TEAM 1-(-6).
PASSING--Jesuit, Palisch 17-41-3--204, Wunderlick 0-1-0--0 . John Tyler, Smith 18-26-1--237, Woods 2-5-1--40.
RECEIVING--Jesuit, Wunderlick 8-82, Jackson 4-61, Fletcher Rosenbleeth 2-28, Alek McGlone 2-23, Connor Jackson 1-10. John Tyler, Miller 2-52, Woods 5-52, Grant 2-51, Michael Givens-Washington 3-35, Ke'Andre Street 2-29, Jaivon Williams 3-15, Campbell 2-14, Jaquan Bass 1-7.