Jesuit is sloppy early, but takes over late to win 20-6

BEAVERTON - It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty, but Jesuit improved to 2-0 in the young 2006 high school football season by taking out rival Central Catholic 20-6 in a Class 6A non-league game at Jesuit High School Friday night.

"It was a good effort for all of us," said Jesuit senior wide receiver Michael Lowe, who finished with 79 yards and a touchdown on four catches. "We came out a little sloppy but the defense picked it up."

The Rams (1-1) did an admirable job of keeping Jesuit's vaunted running game in check Friday night - Crusader star Paul Weatheroy topped the 100-yard mark but needed 29 carries to rack up his 123 rushing yards - but Jesuit found other ways to get into the end zone.

Crusader quarterback Dan Wagner (15-of-29 passing for 187 yards, one touchdown and one interception) connected with senior wide receiver Michael Lowe on a 6-yard slant pattern midway through the second quarter for a 7-0 lead and Jesuit would never trail.

Central Catholic cut the gap to 7-6 on its ensuing possession when quarterback Jacob Haas hit wide receiver for a 39-yard scoring strike, but a poor snap foiled the Rams' extra-point try and their hopes of tying the game.

Jesuit added a Tyler Cope field goal late in the first half to offset three turnovers in the first two quarters, boosted its edge to 17-6 on Wagner's 1-yard sneak late in the third and added another Cope field goal in the fourth for the final 20-6 margin.

Central's Haas finished 17-of-42 passing with one TD, two interceptions and 16 yards.

For more game coverage, see Thursday's edition of the Beaverton Valley Times.