RICHARDSON — Dallas Jesuit helped its 6A playoff chances with a 29-7 road win over Richardson Berkner at Richardson ISD’s Wildcat-Ram Stadium on Friday night, giving head coach Brandon Hickman his 100th career win.
Berkner (4-4, 4-2 District 7-6A) stayed within striking distance in the first half without starting quarterback Cornell McGee IV, who was injured during last week’s loss to Highland Park. However, Jesuit (4-3, 3-2) held the Rams to just 215 total yards and took command of the game by controlling the pace and recovering two onside kicks in the second half.
Jesuit had an early scoring opportunity after recovering a fumble at the Berkner 35-yard line but only gained three years before turning the ball over on downs. Running back Henry Bourret scored the game’s first touchdown a few minutes later to take a 7-0 lead, and Berkner quarterback Demarcus Calhoun responded with his team’s only score to tie things at the end of the quarter.
That was about all the offense Berkner could muster as Jesuit added a field goal and a touchdown in the second as part of 22 unanswered points the rest of the game.
Jesuit got aggressive in the second half, opening with a field goal drive and following each subsequent scoring drive with an onside kick. Berkner kept the game close by forcing field goal attempts, but Noah McGough converted each time, and the Rams could not turn their best drive of the half into points as running back Jamary Williams was stopped at the one-yard line on fourth and goal.
Turnovers stopped any other chances to flip momentum from Berkner, as the Jesuit defense came up with a fourth-quarter interception and a fumble recovery with 1:27 left that allowed it to run out the clock.
Jesuit quarterback Charlie Peters threw for 235 yards and a touchdown, while Bourret added 109 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Williams led Berkner with 79 rushing yards, and Calhoun had 86 passing yards.
The win puts Jesuit in a tie for fourth place in the district, which it beat earlier this season but still trails due to its overall record. Berkner dropped to third place with its second straight loss.
Jesuit hosts Irving Nimitz (1-7,1-5) next Friday, while Berkner has a bye week before trying to end its losing streak against Nimitz the following week.
