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By Mia Thomas

In the sub-state game against St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday, Nov. 17, the Jaguars lost 55-21. Extending his arm, junior Tanner Moore avoids a defender as he carries the ball.

The Jaguars lost to the St. Thomas Aquinas Saint 55-21 on Friday, Nov. 17 in the sub-state championship game. The loss ended the Jags’ season with a final record of 7-5.

The Saints ran the ball 42 yards for a touchdown on their first play from scrimmage.

The Jags failed to convert on fourth down on the following drive, turning it over on downs. The Saints capitalized on the turnover, running it 20 yards for a touchdown.

According to head coach Joel Applebee, early mistakes set the team behind.  

“Play a great team [and] you cannot make mistakes, and early we made some mistakes that put us in a hole,” Applebee said. “Again, give them credit; they’re a great team.”

The Jags responded on their next drive with a touchdown. After the Saints were called for offsides on two plays in a row on fourth down, the Jags had an automatic first down to continue their drive. At the start of the second quarter, senior quarterback Brody Flaming found junior Matty Wittenauer in the endzone for a touchdown. After a successful extra point by junior kicker Jack Matchette, the Jags trailed 14-7.

Applebee is happy with Flaming’s performance in the game.

“They’re very, very good up front; front seven is very, very good. We knew that and we had to try to establish the run as best we could,” Applebee said. “But we knew we had to throw the ball, and I thought Brody did a great job of doing that tonight.”

On the Saints’ next possession midway through the second quarter, they scored on a 48-yard touchdown run.

The Saints finished out the first half with two rushing touchdowns within the last two minutes. Going into halftime, the Jags trailed 35-7.

Applebee said he is proud of the senior class and the legacy that they will leave behind.

“I can’t say enough about this senior class and what they’ve done and the legacy they will always leave on this school and this community,” Applebee said. “I’m very, very proud of them.”

At the start of the third quarter, Flaming found Wittenauer again in the endzone for a touchdown. After an extra point by Matchette, the Jags fell 35-14.

Despite the breakout game by Wittenauer, he is concentrating on the team’s results.

“My personal accolades don’t matter — it’s the team that matters,” Wittenauer said. “Winning matters, and we didn’t get it done tonight.”

The Saints extended their lead with a passing touchdown midway through the third quarter and with a pick six towards the end of the third quarter.

After an interception by Flaming, the Saints ran it in for a touchdown to extend their lead to 55-14.

Applebee said he has seen great improvement in the team since the start of the year.

“We’re a completely different team, and that’s because of the seniors that lead this team to that improvement,” Applebee said.

Wittenauer agrees, adding that the team has worked all season to get better.

“The team right now is way different team than week one,” Wittenauer said. “[We] really just got better every single day and really improved.”

The Jags scored the final touchdown of the night when Flaming ran it for 39 yards. This made the score 55-21, which would be the final score.

Applebee is proud of what the team has done this year.

“[They are a] very resilient group. This group works very, very hard. I can’t say enough great things about this group and what they’ve done for this school and for this community,” Applebee said. “What they’ve done is unbelievable, and I only see it getting better from here.”

With the win, the Saints will face Bishop Carroll for the 5A state title.