DAVIE — University School junior JuJu Logan wanted to make up for lost time after last year’s 31-6 loss to Westminster Academy.
Logan had been carted off the field with a concussion in the fourth quarter of last year’s matchup with the Lions.
University School’s Jacques Dixson looks for running room against Westminster Academy on Thursday night. Dixson had 145 yards rushing and a TD reception as the Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School’s Griffin Pomper celebrates his 2-point conversion reception that forced a running clock in the fourth quarter as the Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School’s Jacques Dixson looks for running room against Westminster Academy on Thursday night. Dixson had 145 yards rushing and a TD reception as the Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
Westminster Academy receiver Dwayne Wimbley Jr., left, sheds the tackle of University School’s Joshua Houston en route to a 54 yard pickup. The Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)Contributor)
University School’s JuJu Logan (15) had two interceptions and a receiving TD as the Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School’s defensive end Justice Martin played a key role in the Sharks’ 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
Westminster Academy running back Harrison Gant looks for running room against University School. The Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School’s defensive end Justice Martin picks up his third sack of the game as he hauls down Lions’ quarterback Anthony Barbar. The Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School’s Ian Donahue celebrates with teammate Jacques Dixson after scoring a touchdown against Westminster Academy. The Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
Westminster Academy quarterback Anthony Barbar looks to throw the ball downfield against the Sharks. The Sharks remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School quarterback Jett Yurgealitis hands off to running back Jacques Dixson during a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
University School remained undefeated at 7-0 with a 42-7 thrashing of visiting Westminster Academy on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)
The 5-foot-8, 140-pound two-way player came up huge on Thursday night, grabbing two interceptions and catching a touchdown pass as the Sharks walloped visiting Westminster 42-7 as University School improved to 7-0.
“Tonight was really big,” Logan said. “Last year, I left the game on a stretcher and that motivated me tonight to come back out and get this victory for us.
“I was hungry for this one and I got it. The statement that our team is making is that we are here, and U-School football is back, and we are coming for that state championship this year.”
University School senior quarterback Jett Yurgealitis completed 22 of 34 passes for 233 yards and five touchdowns. The second-year varsity starter also rushed for a score from 3 yards out as the Sharks moved closer to the school’s all-time best start of 14 straight wins to open the year, set in 2010 when they finished 14-1 and lost to Trinity Catholic 56-55 in three overtimes in the state final.
“I think we can be a lot more than just the score,” Yurgealitis said. “We left a lot of opportunities on the field. I think we could have put 60 on them. I am starting to read the field more and staying composed. We are just getting started and we are not looking to slow down any time soon.”
Junior running back Jacques Dixson had 10 carries for 100 yards in the second half and finished with 18 carries for a game-high 145 yards. He also caught a 5-yard TD pass from Yurgealitis to give the Sharks a 6-0 lead. University School built a 20-7 halftime lead on short TD passes from Yurgealitis to Logan (6 yards) and to Ian Donahue (1 yard).
“Jett is an amazing quarterback,” Dixson said. “He pushes us in practice, and we are just balling. I think the work we did during the summer in the offseason and now in season is showing on the field.
“Honestly, our motivation has been the state championship,” he added. “We’ve been working towards that, and I feel like we are still not done yet. I think if we keep getting better every week, we should win it.”
This is the best start that University School has had in Michael Norman’s three years as coach. The Sharks finished 6-4 last year.
“We thought all week if we came out and set the tone physically we could take advantage of that,” said Norman, whose team handled two other physical teams in St. Andrew’s and North Broward Prep before Thursday.
“We saw on film that we could take advantage of a couple of the things they did defensively and then we put pressure on them,” he added. “JuJu has been great for us. He is a baseball guy, but he plays all over for us. He plays safety and receiver…he’s a punt returner and our backup quarterback. He’s really come on this year on both sides of the ball.”
The Lions scored with just 30 seconds left in the first half on a 27-yard TD pass from senior QB Anthony Barbar to senior WR Evan Tempro.
Yurgealitis threw for two more scores in the second half and added a third running TD to finish off the scoring.
