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This Jesuit team has flashes of 2015-16, and that’s a good thing

The Tigers are averaging just over 36 points per game this season while allowing only 13. They held CCC to 10.
 
Jesuit and Clearwater Central Catholic players pray together on Friday night.
Jesuit and Clearwater Central Catholic players pray together on Friday night. [ JAKE PERPER | Special to the Times ]
Published Oct. 10, 2020

TAMPA — Jesuit is off to its first 6-0 start in two seasons following a convincing 45-10 home win over Clearwater Central Catholic on Friday evening.

The Tigers scored on all of five of their first-half possessions, shutting out the visitors over the first 30 minutes of play.

Jesuit is averaging just over 36 points per game this season while allowing only 13. All the pieces are in place for the Tigers.

This offense has a similar feel to the 2015 and 2016 groups that featured current Florida Gators running back Malik Davis, Washington State athlete Travell Harris and reliable quarterback Danny Boon.

In the place of that gifted trio are sophomore running back Joquez Smith, senior quarterback Joseph Pesansky and junior athlete Junior Vandeross.

Vandeross compiled a three-score night with touchdown grabs of 10 and 25 yards, and a 65-yard punt return right before halftime.

He plays the role of Harris for this offense and says he has a close relationship with both him and Davis.

“I talk to each of Travell and Malik all the time. They are my guys,” Vandeross said. “They just tell me to keep working, keep following the process and keep my head up. Jesuit is a great place to be.”

Pesansky, a senior transfer from Virginia, plays the role of Boon under center. He completed 11-of-17 of his passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

Two of those touchdown passes went to Vandeross. The other one was a 13-yard strike to junior wide receiver Jadyn Girard midway through the second quarter.

Jesuit coach Matt Thompson called Pesansky a special kid and said he “might be the best quarterback I’ve ever coached in 26 years.”

“I’ve never had a kid on a team that throws like him and commands the offense like he does,” Thompson said. “When we get the running game going and that passing game, you can pick your poison.”

As for Smith, the sophomore is trying to replicate the dynamic role out of the backfield that Davis did for years.

He started the night with a 3-yard touchdown run just two plays after returning the opening kickoff for 40 yards. Smith tweaked his ankle early on and was held out, but Thompson says he is “a good back with great vision and burst.”

Defensively, senior defensive back Tyler Cornish had a 25-yard interception return right before the half for Jesuit.

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For Clearwater Central Catholic (2-3), sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea’s 49-yard touchdown pass to junior Bryson Martin in the third quarter was the lone touchdown for the Marauders.