Back Again: Jays Scrimmage Mandeville to Open Season

On Friday night, the Jays took on the Mandeville High Skippers in a scrimmage that showcased their potential. Under the guidance of junior Taylor Norton at quarterback, the Jays demonstrated a promising offense with a more balanced passing attack complementing the traditional running game that Coach Manale is known for. Although the team did not play a full game and did not feature all the starters, there is a lot to be excited about this season. This squad might be the most promising since the 2021 State Runner-Up team, brimming with young talent and well-coached by Coach Manale, who has been instrumental in developing these players into elite athletes.

During the two-quarter scrimmage, the Jays showed resilience after falling behind 7-0. The balanced passing game opened up opportunities for the running game, leading to a successful touchdown. The defense also performed well, with second and third-string players getting valuable reps.

Looking ahead, the team is gearing up for the jamboree against Northshore next week and is particularly eager for the Jesuit Rivalry game against Jesuit Dallas on September 6th at Tad Gormley. With Holy Cross losing many of their key starters and the Jays’ revamped offense providing more support for the defense, there’s a strong chance they could win the Catholic League. Given that many of last season’s games were closely contested, this season promises to be an exciting one to follow.

Photos by James Redmann ‘25