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Jesuit's road trip to Columbus headlines top Week 3 high school football games

jon santucci, palm beach post
·5 min read
Quarterback Luke Knight (6) of Jesuit celebrates winning the Class 6A state championship game over Pine Forest at DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL Dec. 17, 2021.
Quarterback Luke Knight (6) of Jesuit celebrates winning the Class 6A state championship game over Pine Forest at DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL Dec. 17, 2021.

Well, Jesuit certainly isn’t taking things easy this fall.

After winning the Class 6A state championship last fall, the Tigers opened the season with wins against Wharton (Class 7A regional finalist in 2021) and Treasure Coast (Class 8A state semifinalist in 2021), Jesuit is heading on the road for the first time this fall.

And it’s not just any road trip.

Jesuit (No. 2 in Class 3M on the USA Today Florida Network poll) is headed Miami to take on Columbus (No. 2 in Class 4M) on Friday. It's Jesuit's first trip to South Florida since beating Pine Forest in the title game  last December in Fort Lauderdale.

Both defenses have been strong this season with neither team giving up more than two touchdowns in a game.

They also boast a tremendous amount of talent — especially on the defensive side of the ball. Columbus has the trio of highly recruited juniors TJ Capers, Daylen Russell and Dylan Stephenson. Jesuit is led by Georgia commit Troy Bowles and juniors Drew Woodaz and Peter Pesansky.

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Here are some of the other top games to watch in Week 3

Cocoa at St. Thomas Aquinas

Cedric Hawkins of Cocoa is one of Brevard County’s players to watch this football season. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
Cedric Hawkins of Cocoa is one of Brevard County’s players to watch this football season. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

Cocoa and St. Thomas Aquinas are perennial powers and favorites in their respective classes. Aquinas is No. 1 in Class 3M and is averaging 45 pointer per game. Cocoa, the No. 2 team in Class 2S, was off last week following a season-opening loss against Jones.

Chaminade-Madonna at Miami Northwestern

Chaminade-Madonna's Edwin Joseph (4) sprints down the field. Chaminade-Madonna leads Berkeley Prep 7-0 at the half of the 3A State Championship game at Gene Cox Stadium on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021.
Chaminade-Madonna's Edwin Joseph (4) sprints down the field. Chaminade-Madonna leads Berkeley Prep 7-0 at the half of the 3A State Championship game at Gene Cox Stadium on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021.

Two of the state’s best meet in this one. Chaminade, which is averaging 42 points per game, is No. 1 in Class 1M. Northwestern, who beat Jones in the Kickoff Classic and Venice on the road in the season opener, is No. 3 in Class 2M.

Madison County at Fitzgerald (Ga.)

Madison County Cowboys celebrate their victory. Madison County defeated Hawthorne 13-12 to claim the Class 1A State Championship title at Gene Cox Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021.
Madison County Cowboys celebrate their victory. Madison County defeated Hawthorne 13-12 to claim the Class 1A State Championship title at Gene Cox Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021.

Madison County (No. 1 in Class 1R) started the year with an impressive win at Carrollwood Day and a dominant Week 2 win against Godby. Now, the defending rural classification champion is headed to Brunswick, Georgia to headline the three-day Border War showcase. Fitzgerald won the Georgia AA championship last fall and is No. 2 in the class on MaxPreps.

Edgewater at West Orange

Both of these teams are coming off statement wins in Week 2. Edgewater (No. 4 in Class 3M) beat nationally-ranked Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) 34-10 last week. West Orange (No. 5 in Class 4M) topped Apopka 13-6. Edgewater has relied on senior running back Cedric Baxter Jr., who has rushed for more than 500 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Indiviudal recruiting matchups to watch

Gaither 2023 WR Eugene Wilson III vs. Wharton 2023 DB Dijon Johnson

GaitherÕs Eugene Wilson flies in from the side and blocks the Lightning extra point. Action as Lehigh beat Gaither in their first round playoff game 27-0.
GaitherÕs Eugene Wilson flies in from the side and blocks the Lightning extra point. Action as Lehigh beat Gaither in their first round playoff game 27-0.

Two of the state’s premier skill position guys face off in Tampa. Wilson, a Florida commit and No. 41 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100 commit, caught six passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns against Steinbrenner in the season opener. Johnson, No. 22 top 100, is one of the premier defensive backs in the nation. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder Johnson decommitted from Ohio State and also has offers from Florida, Miami and several others.

Columbus 2023 RB Sedrick Irvin Jr. vs. Jesuit 2023 LB Troy Bowles

Palmetto High quarterback Zander Smith, #15, is brought down by Jesuit High defender Troy Bowles, #23. Palmetto High School hosted Jesuit High School (Tampa) in a spring football game Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
Palmetto High quarterback Zander Smith, #15, is brought down by Jesuit High defender Troy Bowles, #23. Palmetto High School hosted Jesuit High School (Tampa) in a spring football game Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

Irvin and Bowles are a pair of standout seniors who are following in their father’s celebrated footsteps. Irvin, a Stanford commit, is No. 84 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. His dad played at Michigan State and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. Bowles, a Georgia commit, is the No. 2 linebacker in the state and No. 16 overall on the top 100. His dad is Tampa Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. Troy Bowles has 16 tackles and an interception in two games this season.

Nease 2023 QB Marcus Stokes vs. Fleming Island 2023 LB Abram Wright

Nease's star QB and Florida commit Marcus Stokes started his senior campaign against Menendez.
Nease's star QB and Florida commit Marcus Stokes started his senior campaign against Menendez.

Stokes, a Florida commit, is No. 63 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. Stokes threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Creekside last week. Wright, a Rutgers commit, had six tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback pressure and an interception in the season opener.

More: Florida preseason all-recruit, all-state football team (with a twist)

Dr. Phillips 2023 OT Payton Kirkland vs. Apopka 2023 DL Kaven Call

Kirkland is committed to Texas; Call is committed to UCF

Booker T. Washington 2024 RB Gerald Modest Jr. vs. Miami Central 2023 LB Stanquan Clark

Clark is committed to Louisville

Boone 2023 WR Aidan Mizell vs. Winter Park 2023 DB Zion Gunn

Mizell is committed to Florida; Gunn is committed to Purdue

Benjamin wide receiver and track star Micah Mays backs up his nickname, "Air Mays," with a jump and catch in the end zone.
Benjamin wide receiver and track star Micah Mays backs up his nickname, "Air Mays," with a jump and catch in the end zone.

Benjamin 2023 WR Micah Mays vs. Cardinal Newman 2024 DB Josh Philostin

Mays is committed to Wake Forest

More: Recruiting: Benjamin standout Micah Mays commits to Wake Forest

Bartram Trail 2024 QB Riley Trujillo vs. Mainland 2024 DB Zavier Mincey

More: Football recruiting: Colleges 'showing a lot of love' to Mainland juniors on Thursday

Treasure Coast 2023 DL Corey McIntyre Jr. vs. Seminole 2025 OL Max Buchanan

McIntyre is committed to West Virginia

More: Recruiting: Treasure Coast DL Corey McIntyre Jr. commits to West Virginia

Evans 2023 OL Chrisdasson St. Jean vs. Ocoee 2023 OLB/EDGE Calvin Smith

Smith is committed to Illinois

More: Exclusive: Ocoee three-star OLB/DE Calvin Smith announces his college decision

Cardinal Gibbons 2023 QB Dylan Rizk vs. Gulliver Prep 2023 CB Daniel Harris

Rizk is committed to UCF; Harris is committed to Georgia

Bolles Bulldogs' Connor Cox (14) looks on between plays during the fourth quarter of a regular season football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 at The Bolles School in Jacksonville. The Bolles Bulldogs defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 27-20.
Bolles Bulldogs' Connor Cox (14) looks on between plays during the fourth quarter of a regular season football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 at The Bolles School in Jacksonville. The Bolles Bulldogs defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 27-20.

Bolles 2023 TE Connor Cox vs. Brunswick (Ga.) 2024 LB Devin Smith

Cox is committed to South Carolina

More: Super 11: Bolles' Connor Cox aims to become football's latest multi-sport tight end star

East (Utah) 2023 TE Matthew Fredrick vs. IMG 2023 LB Jordan Hall

Fredrick is committed to BYU; Hall is committed to Michigan State

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jesuit's trip to Columbus headlines Week 3 high school football games