Crusaders get defensive against Aloha

Jesuit picks off three Aloha passes and — except for two big plays — holds the Warriors to 82 yards

By Miles Vance

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 17, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Miles Vance / Beaverton Valley Times

BIG HIT – Aloha's Kyle Johnson puts a hit on Jesuit's Jack Nelson during Jesuit's 49-14 win at Aloha High School on Friday night.

ALOHA — Big, bad Jesuit was in no mood to entertain Aloha's nascent playoff hopes on Friday night.

The top-ranked Crusaders picked off three Aloha passes, shut down Aloha's powerful running game and raced away with a 49-14 win over the Warriors at Aloha High School on Friday night. The victory gave Jesuit sole possession of first place in the Metro League at 2-0 (5-1 overall) while Aloha fell into a four-way tie for second at 1-1 (4-2 overall).

"We knew they were a good rushing team, but each week, we’re getting better," said Jesuit senior defensive back Michael Link, who picked off one Aloha pass and also blocked a Warrior punt — both stops set up Crusader touchdowns. "We’ve just got to keep doing so."

"We just wanted to come out and make a statement," said Jesuit junior tailback Jordan Talley, who finished with 135 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries. "The defense did really good tonight and the line definitely did good tonight too."

For the Warriors — who opened the Metro season a week ago with a 48-14 win over Sunset — Friday's loss was painful indeed, but not a deal-breaker as the team tries to erase a 21-year state playoff drought.

"It was very tough," said Aloha senior lineman James Euscher. "We had a bad game. We just beat ourselves, but it’s already behind us. We have Southridge next week and that’s what we’re looking forward to."

Jesuit opened the night with a 15-yard Jeff Elorriaga touchdown run on its opening series, but the Warriors responded on their first possession to force a 7-7 tie. There, Aloha's Jon-Jon Moore took a handoff around right end, was hit by Jesuit's Dominique Forrest and fumbled the ball forward where teammate John Schaffer caught it in the air and raced 74 yards to score.

It all Crusaders most of the rest of the night though. Jesuit got a 27-yard Talley TD run to make it 14-7, then added a 10-yard Elorriaga-to-Taylor Martinek TD pass, a 30-yard interception return for a score by Keanon Lowe and a 13-yard Talley run to make it 35-7 at halftime.

Then, after a scoreless third quarter, Jesuit added a 4-yard Talley TD run in the fourth and an 18-yard Jordan Lewis scoring run to make it 49-7. Freshman running back Thomas Tyner (93 yards on six carries) then broke a 65-yard TD for Aloha's last score.

Next week, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jesuit plays at Beaverton and Aloha plays at Southridge.

For a complete game story and more photos, please see Thursday's edition of the Beaverton Valley Times.

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