Rangers Eliminated by Westfield
Jesuit’s history-making football season came to an end on Saturday, when the Rangers fell 38-28 to Spring Westfield in Houston.
The program advanced to the Class 6A Division II Region II final for the first time since joining the UIL in 2004, thanks to a playoff run that included an upset of defending state champion Longview in the area round.
E.J. Smith continued his remarkable postseason run with two touchdowns, but the Mustangs scored 10 points in the final 5:09 to send Jesuit home.
The Rangers (9-5) started fast thanks to a Jack Barton interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. However, three straight Westfield touchdowns put the Mustangs (13-1) in the driver’s seat.
Jesuit rallied to tie the score twice, first on Smith’s second touchdown run late in the second quarter, and again on a 34-yard scoring strike from Rance Holman to Charlie Cook early in the fourth.
However, Westfield took advantage of two second-half turnovers and an outstanding game by Kendal Taylor to seal the win. Taylor finished with 204 rushing yards and two long touchdowns.
Smith accumulated 116 all-purpose yards in his final game for the Rangers. Holman passed for 212 yards, and Christian Allocco caught 10 passes for 81 yards.
