The Jesuit Crusaders ranked #2 in the State of Oregon hosted the #7 Westview Wildcats in a game that determined the outcome of the Metro League Title. The boys in Green and Gold defended their Metro League title string staying a perfect 9-0 on the season with the 34-14 win last night.
With superstar Junior Trey Lowe out for the season with a busted rib Head Coach Ken Potter does what he does best. Took to the ground game. Behind 6’7″-318 pound Senior Jaxson Kirkland and an Offensive line for the ages the Crusaders dictated the tone and tempo using Junior Ennis Ferguson as a modern-day battering ram. He ran the ball 43 times for 192 yards and 4 TD’s insuring the win.
That line includes rising recruit Travis Spreen (6’3″-275 lbs.) at center who we expect to have Big Sky and Mountain West offers soon. Flanking him are the Dahl brothers, Joel and Jarred, both 6’4″ and 240 lbs and quick. The Senior twins have offers from San Diego and should generate a lot of recruiting interest as the post season starts up. The line which has been named “the Franchise” is rounded out by 260 lb. Trevor Pixley. This group is perhaps as good as the infamous Jesuit group from ’05 and ’06 that won back to back State Titles.
Kirkland had a marquis match up with Westview’s Brandon Pili who himself has a UCLA offer among others. The battle roared on and Pili put in a long night no doubt facing the best O’line group he has ever faced. Kirkland won more of the battles then he lost but to his credit Pili plays both ways every down. His talents were not diminished in light of that.
We caught up to Kirkland at the end of the game wondering if his UCLA commitment was still sound and if his hair was going to get any longer. A great kid and a linemen for the ages from Oregon no doubt!
