By: Michael Crossley ’20 and Aaron Ursin ‘20
The Holy Cross Tigers faced off against The Belle Chasse Cardinals during the Jamboree. It seemed like a breeze for them after winning 34-7, just nickel and diming down the field scoring with ease. The Tigers’ Junior quarterback John Wooton had a field day throwing 3 touchdowns against the Cardinals showcasing his strength to throw the ball on the field. The wide receivers seemed to have glue on their hands since senior Christian Calamari and junior Jalen Johnson were dashing through the defense. Once the Cardinals tried to stop the throwing game, the HC Tigers started to run down, scoring once again with Junior running back Jaden Handy breaking one for 40 yards down the field in the end zone. The offense showcased why they are a team to be reckoned with. Senior Christian Calamari said, “When it comes down to us, we have so much trust in our quarterback that we know when he throws the ball, it is coming right to us in the perfect spot for us to catch the ball.” It seems as if Wooton and his wide receivers have a great connection and will be tough to stop when district comes around.
Also, the Tiger defense was clicking on all cylinders against a solid Belle Chasse offense. HC came out with a burst of energy and really solidified their positions as one of the most feared defenses in the Catholic League. Junior safety, Jackson Wallace showcased his potential Division 1 instincts, as he racked up two interceptions, one being returned for a Tiger touchdown. The defensive line faced some adversity in the first half, as Belle Chasse’s quarterback showed off his speed and agility. But, in the second half, the Tiger defense looked to be a completely new unit, as they would come to completely shut down the Belle Chasse offense. The defense anchored the ship for the Tigers, allowing 0 points in the second half, and only allowing 7 points for the whole game. The Tigers were without star Senior linebacker, Tyler Grubbs, but the young linebacking core still held their own. Junior defensive end, Barryn Sorrell sparked penetration against the Cardinals' defense, forcing a fumble, while Junior defensive tackle, Jace Stewart recovered the fumble for the Tigers. If the Tiger defense can perform consistently as they did in the second half, the Tigers will be looking at an extremely successful season. As we all know, you can have the best defense in the world, but defense will always be the determining factor if the team will win a championship or not. We Had a chance to catch up with Junior Jackson Wallace. He said “I was pleased with our defense’s effort, but we will have to improve on some things before we face St. Thomas More next week.” The Tigers are primed to defeat St. Thomas More Friday, September 6 at Yulman Stadium at 7pm. Go Tigers!