Going out on top: Jesuit beats Vista del Lago in spring football finale
Jesuit High School defensive back Jackson Hagopian intercepted a pass with 45 seconds left in the final afternoon spring game of the season, his team leading by two scores. It was his second interception of the day.
The 56-42 win over Vista del Lago in Carmichael was a perfect way for the Jesuit senior class to go out in a season some never anticipated was possible amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 14 Jesuit seniors who were recognized before kickoff appreciated this day. They were: Matthew Bettencourt, Roman Canaan, Jack Chastain, Ryland Dewar, Jake Hall, Garrett Heisinger, Carsen Keim, Keleki Latu, Nate Lewis, Peyton McDonald, Ace Saca, Tucker Johnstone, Nicholas Swanson and Cash Taylor.
Every Jesuit player lined up after the game to give a hug and show appreciation to their coach, Marlon Blanton.
“That’s what it’s (like) to be an educator,” Blanton said. “It’s a foster environment. It’s a coach-player relationship where you respect them and they let you coach them. They listen to your coaching and you give them room to grow as individuals. That’s what coaching is all about.”
This game wasn’t scheduled a week ago. Jesuit was supposed to host Davis, while Vista del Lago planned to travel to play Sac High. The Jesuit and Vista del Lago coaches worked together to make this game happen.
Jesuit went into the half with a 21-14 lead after Preston Vukovich found tight end Keleki Latu for a 34-yard touchdown pass at the buzzer.
Vista del Lago (4-1) tied the game at 28 midway through the third quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run by Aydan Edwards. He had 365 passing yards and added 65 on the ground. Eagles star running back Ethan Menezes in his final prep game rushed for 171 yards and had 106 yards receiving. His 58-yard touchdown run in the third quarter also broke the school career rushing record held by Dominick Norris.
Kai Santos ran for 213 yards and had touchdown runs of 74 and 76 yards. Cash Taylor ran for 93 yards and had touchdown runs for one and two yards. Garrett McGriff ran for 80 yards and had a 65-yard touchdown run.
“Our offensive line is so upbeat, they don’t play for themselves,” Latu said. “They play for everyone else. They always have a smile on their face.”
Jesuit (3-2) was able to close it out in the fourth quarter with touchdown runs by McGriff and Taylor and Vukovich’s second touchdown pass to Latu. He had four catches for 121 yards.
Keleki is a Jesuit legacy. Older brother Laiatu graduated from Jesuit in 2019 and went on to play at the University of Washington. It was announced a few weeks ago by Washington coach Jimmy Lake that Laitatu would have to medically retire because of a neck injury.
Keleki will head to Cal this fall to continue his football career and carry on the family name.
“I looked up to my older brother as a role model and a leader,” Latu said. “I wanted to be like him and hopefully do better than him. I always wanted him to be someone I looked up to all of the time ... I’m so excited for (Cal). I want to get coached by the best coaches I know. I want to be a better player than I am right now. I can’t wait to do that.”
This story was originally published April 18, 2021 at 5:07 AM.