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Football: Jesuit 42, Fort Myers Dunbar 0

 
Published Nov. 28, 2015

TAMPA — Jesuit junior Malik Davis surpassed the school records for touchdowns and rushing yards Friday night as the undefeated Tigers rolled past Fort Myers Dunbar 42-0 to capture the Class 5A, Region 3 championship.

While the mark was nice, Davis was much more pleased about where it has his Tigers: in the state semifinals, where Jesuit (13-0) gets a chance to avenge last year's third-round loss against Orlando Bishop Moore.

"It's a huge accomplishment for us. I'm really excited for the chance to play Bishop Moore again," Davis said. He needed just 48 yards to overtake Mo Harris (2,038), who set his mark in the state runnerup 1992 season. Davis had 118 yards on 22 carries.

Jesuit's defense was just as instrumental in the victory, scoring two touchdowns and forcing five turnovers. Dunbar's only first down in the second half came on a penalty and the visitors finished with 55 total yards.

Dunbar (10-3) came out charged up, with Jailyn Mays stuffing Davis twice, hopping up and making the "money" sign as Jesuit went three and out. Then the visitors were on the move until Travell Harris intercepted Jairus Johnson and weaved through would-be tacklers for a 40-yard score.

At that point Dunbar's defense had still not allowed a playoff touchdown but that changed on the next Jesuit possession, sparked by Danny Boon's screen pass that Davis took 72 yards to the 5. He scored on a 2-yard run and his 2-point conversion made it 14-0 with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter.

That gave him the Jesuit record for touchdowns in a season with 27, and on the next drive he carried five times for 45 yards to set the new rushing total.

"Honestly I wasn't even thinking about it," he said, more concerned with the tights he was wearing under his pants that wouldn't let him loosen up.

Jesuit overcame a first-and-20 situation with Boon hitting Rey Riveros twice, the second connection for 9 yards to the 1. Nick Perillo had the first of his two 1-yard scoring runs from there.

Rodney Higdon's interception set up the second Perillo score with 52 seconds left in the half for a 28-0 lead. Higdon later scooped and scored from 39 yards to provide the final margin.

The third quarter wasn't too aesthetically pleasing, with Jesuit being held to minus-29 yards and no first downs. But Davis (free of the tights at this point) took off on the opening play of the fourth for a 40-yard gain, Harris followed with a 30-yarder and Boon snuck in from the 1. Boon went 7-of-8 for 107 yards, with no second-half pass attempts. He was sacked three times.

Zack Quilty paced the Jesuit defensive line with a sack and tackle for loss. Jordan Lassiter and Anthony Nelson both had tackles that led to 10-yard losses in the first quarter.