For four straight seasons, Jesuit fell one game short of reaching the state title game. Each time, the players were enveloped in silent misery, watching another team advance – and win it all.
This season, the Tigers’ playoff woes were in the past. They took the next step, clearing that state semifinal obstacle to reach the championship game for the first time since 1992.
And with a chance to win the school’s first in state title in 53 years, Jesuit delivered thanks to some last minute panache.
With 37 seconds remaining in regulation, Luke Knight hit Jaydn Girard on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers ahead 35-29. Moments later, AJ Cottrill picked off a pass to seal the win.
As the final seconds ticked away, a swarm of triumphant Jesuit players rushed toward the middle of the field at Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium to celebrate what had been an elusive state title.
The Tigers, who were ranked 10th nationally by MaxPreps, became just the fifth area team to finish as an undefeated state champion.
Throughout the playoffs, Jesuit was dominant, outscoring opponents by a combined 178-21. The Tigers also gained plenty of confidence by becoming the first area team to ever beat Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in the regular season and getting past perennial powerhouse Miami Northwestern in the Class 6A state semifinals two week ago.
Saturday’s final, though, was no breeze.
After going ahead, 14-7 in the second quarter, Jesuit watched as Pine Forest scored 22 unanswered points to take a 29-14 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
There was no screaming. No panic.
Jesuit players simply kept the faith, practicing everything the coaches had preached. They made plays on offense. They didn’t break on defense.
Most of all, they remained resilient.
Knight, who was picked off four times, including three by Tyrese Thomas, shook off those miscues by delivering when it mattered most.
He threw three touchdowns in the final 14 minutes of regulation. The first two went to Toledo signee Junior Vandeross on 50- and 28-yard scoring strikes. On the last one, Vandeross showed off his moves, eluding several defenders on his way to the end zone.
That cut the deficit to 29-27.
On the ensuing kickoff, Pine Forest’s Donielle Hayes returned it 86 yards to the Tigers’ 5-yard line before being tackled by Andre Gilbert in what turned out to be a pivotal play.
Four times, Eagles quarterback T.J. Wilson ran the ball. He was met by a wall of pads on every carry as Jesuit made the biggest goal line stand in school history.
Knight was intercepted on the next possession.
No matter. The Tigers’ defense came through again, this time with an interception of their own courtesy of Hayes Greep.
Jesuit had the ball at its own 9 with 3:23 remaining. On the second play of the drive, Knight hit Girard, a Wake Forest signee, on a 78-yard pass. Three plays later, Knight hit Girard again, this time for the game-winning score. Joquez Smith, who rushed for 93 yards and the Tigers’ first two touchdowns of the night, ran in the two-point conversion to make it 35-29.
The score stood after Cottrill’s pick.
The Tigers then extended their arms and smiled with glow that lifted the air around them.
It was a moment of unfiltered joy for a title they could finally embrace.
Unbeaten, untied, unbelievable
Jesuit became the fifth area team to become an undefeated state champion on the field. (Armwood did it three times but the 2004 team had to forfeit one game and the 2011 team eventually had to forfeit every game because of rules violations).
| School | Year won title | Record in title year |
| Pasco | 1992 | 14-0 |
| Armwood | 2003 | 15-0 |
| Armwood | 2004 | 14-0 (one win forfeited) |
| Plant | 2006 | 15-0 |
| Jefferson | 2010 | 15-0 |
| Armwood | 2011 | 15-0 (forfeited all 15 wins) |
| Jesuit | 2021 | 15-0 |
