Jesuit Rangers end season with 45-28 loss to Prosper Rock Hill

Jesuit high school football players watched their season end in a 45-28 defeat to Prosper Rock Hill on Thursday night at Children’s Health Stadium.

The loss eliminated the Rangers from the District 6-6A playoffs, a result that broke a seven-year streak of postseason qualification for the school.

Jesuit entered the game with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 district mark. The team had won its previous district contest by a single point in overtime, but it fell to its fourth consecutive district loss against the Rock Hill Blue Hawks.

The Blue Hawks took an early 7-0 lead after an interception at the Rock Hill 7-yard line stopped an opening Jesuit drive. Michael Alfred scored on a 7-yard run to give Rock Hill the advantage. Jesuit tied the game at 7-7 just over a minute into the second quarter when J.P. Livingstone threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Konings.

Rock Hill retook the lead before halftime. Austin Farris threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Lawson Jr., and Liam Spencer kicked a 25-yard field goal as the first half ended. The Blue Hawks led 17-7 at intermission.

Brandon Hickman, the Jesuit head coach, said the team made critical errors in the first half. He noted that the defense struggled to secure stops, prompting the coaching staff to attempt an onside kick at the start of the second half. The gamble succeeded, and Livingstone scored on a 4-yard keeper to cut the deficit to 17-14.

The margin widened quickly after the onside kick. Rock Hill scored two consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter. Farris connected with Leo Williams on an 8-yard pass, and Malachi Thompson ran for a 10-yard score. The Blue Hawks entered the fourth quarter with a 31-14 lead.

The final quarter featured four touchdowns, two from each team. Max Smith caught 6-yard and 23-yard touchdown passes from Livingstone for Jesuit. Williams caught 35-yard and 12-yard touchdown passes from Farris for Rock Hill. Livingstone finished the game with 252 passing yards and three touchdowns, completing 22 of 32 passes. Konings, Smith, and running back Ty Daboub ended their varsity careers in the loss.