Jesuit’s Troy Bowles had picked off two passes this season heading into the second round of the playoffs.
On Friday, the Georgia commit surpassed his season total to lead the Tigers to a 45-10 rout over Gaither in the Class 3 Metro Division region semifinals.
Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, recorded three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.
The score came in the first quarter when Bowles stepped in front of a pass and returned it 65 yards for a 17-0 lead.
The last touchdown came on a 75-yard return at the end of the third quarter that rounded out the scoring and started a running clock due to the mercy rule.
It was quite the birthday gift for Bowles’ father, who turned 59 on Friday.
That was not the only stellar performance for Jesuit.
On offense, Tigers running back Joquez Smith, a Temple commit, finished with three touchdowns on the ground.
Two of those scores helped Jesuit build a 24-10 lead at the half. The final one came in the third quarter to make it 31-10.
Jesuit,the top seed in the region, hosts Largo in this week’s region final.
