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Jesuit Keeps Supremacy

By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 14, 2008

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TAMPA - There's no question the Tampa Catholic-Jesuit football rivalry has become a one-sided affair in recent years. And now, there's no question the Crusaders' streak of futility against their archrival has gotten to them.

Jesuit's 28-16 victory Thursday night was the Tigers' ninth consecutive victory in the annual series between Hillsborough County's most well-known private school programs - and 17th in the last 19 meetings - and the latest was certainly a bit frustrating for a Crusaders (7-3) team hoping to enter the postseason on a positive note.

"Jesuit's in my head. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you," Tampa Catholic coach Bob Henriquez said. "And that's the problem. Because if it's in my head, then it's in the players' heads.

"We haven't been able to control our emotion in big games against these guys for some reason. If somebody has the answer, I'd pay for it. At this point I can't figure it out."

Jesuit (6-4) senior running back Greg Dupell rushed 30 times for 116 yards and three second-half touchdowns to help the Tigers pull away in a game that was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Dupell's biggest runs of the night came on his first two carries of the second half, both of which resulted in touchdowns. The first score was setup on an 88-yard kickoff return by Erick McGriff on the opening kick of the half. The second was set up when Jordan Perhosky recovered a fumble at Tampa Catholic's 1 on the second play of the Crusaders' ensuing drive.

It was a series of plays that took all of one minute and 28 seconds, but the impact lasted much longer.

"That would suck the life out of any team right there," Dupell said. "That's a major swing. That's probably the difference in the game right there."