Attended Tampa Jesuit Tigers @ Wharton Wildcats Friday night. Some people were calling the game The Battle of the Transfers. I was told the Tampa Bay Times ran an article earlier in the week about Wharton’s 15 transfers.
The first half was dominated by both defenses. Two 60+ yard TD passes by each led to a 7-7 score until Jesuit managed a FG to end the 1st half.
Jesuit looked like their usual teams of the past in the 2nd half coming out and pretty much controlling both sides of the ball. Wharton scored a 4th quarter TD to make the score to 17-13 Jesuit but the Tigers marched right down the field to put the game away and won 24-13.
Wharton is expecting big things this year. I think they will deliver. Defense is pretty stout. The Wildcat offense has the skill players but their OL is somewhat pedestrian. Top rated junior IMG transfer Stacey Gage was completely shut down. The QB, one of 3 QB transfers, appears to be very capable.
Jesuit has reloaded plus the return of their QB, top RB and WR. Not sure if they will repeat as state champs but they have, as always, one of the best coaching staffs in the state.