It was the game of the year in Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) football. Undefeated Ft. Worth All Saints against undefeated Houston St. Pius X. The stands were packed at All Saints for Homecoming, and local media came out to cover the event.
The matchup between powerhouse programs meant a lot for small, private school football in Texas. But it meant even more to two of the players in the contest: Northwestern Class of 2018 commits Jacob Jefferson of St. Pius X and Grayson Mann of All Saints. This game was for bragging rights.
Jefferson is hoping for a rematch in the playoffs after All Saints beat St. Pius X 49-37. He knows all to well that this loss to his soon-to-be teammate could hang over him for the next four or five years.
“It’s very difficult losing that game,” said Jefferson, a three-star wide receiver. “Now I know he’s going to hold it over me every time.”
Actually, Jefferson was speaking with his tongue and cheek. Both he and Mann didn’t really engage in any trash talking.
“It was pretty calm before and after,” said Mann, a three-star linebacker. He said he chose not to gloat out of respect for Jefferson and the fact that All Saints may have to meet St. Pius X again.
Both Jefferson and Mann made impacts on the game. Jefferson caught 10 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, of 10 and 34 yards, all before leaving the game early in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. Mann had six tackles, one TFL and two assists in a game that featured more than 1,000 yards of total offense between the two teams (547 for St. Pius X and 457 for All Saints).
Mann didn’t get a chance to tackle or cover Jefferson – and that’s a good thing. “He’s a fast guy and it would take some work for me to catch him,” he said.
Jefferson’s performance has Mann looking forward to playing with the speedster at Northwestern.
“He’s an outstanding player,” said Mann of Jefferson, who has more than 900 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in five games this season. “He’s going to be an impact player at the level. I’d rather be his teammate than a guy I’ll have to play against.”
All Saints scored 21 unanswered points during the second quarter to take a 35-21 halftime lead. But St. Pius X came roaring back behind the arm of four-star Texas A&M commit Grant Gunnell, who threw for 310 yards. The Panthers cut the lead to four points in the third quarter and to five points with 4:58 left in the fourth, but couldn’t get over the hump.
Gunnell wound up getting one-upped by All Saints quarterback Shaun Taylor, who threw for seven touchdowns in the game, including a 56-yarder to Jaylon Robinson that put the game away with just 1:40 left and provided the final margin.
Mann’s play for All Saints caught the eye of Jefferson.
“I just sat back and looked at the film and he’s a monster,” Jefferson said of Mann. “He’s all over the place. He plays linebacker, he plays on the line, he can do it all.”
Mann will visit Northwestern this weekend for the Michigan State game. He’s seen Ryan Field on his two previous visits to Evanston, but he’s looking forward to experiencing game day there for the first time.
“I want to see how the atmosphere is,” said Mann. “I want to see the stadium and see how it feels with Big Ten fans making noise.”
Jefferson and Mann got a taste of competing against each other last Friday, but both like the idea of being teammates better. Now that the game is over, “it’s all love” between them, says Jefferson.
