Fourth-year players were individually announced before the game, as they took the field with family and friends — as is senior night tradition.

Both teams came in with a 1-6 overall record, but the Jaguars are now 2-0 in Tri-County-Stone League play; Hercules High, 0-2. 

Trending in opposite directions, Jesse Bethel High lost its first six games by a combined score of 212-36 before winning consecutive matchups, whereas the Titans have gone over a month without a win and lost their previous pair of games 63-0 combined. 

Shut out seven times altogether this season, the Jaguars’ and Titans’ offensive struggles showed early in the game. At the same time, both teams shined on the other side of the ball.

“Our defense played lights out; I can’t ask for a better job — but our offense has to pick up their game,” said Titans first-year head coach Corey Meshack.

The first nine possessions resulted in Hercules High having four punts and one turnover on downs; Jesse Bethel High, a pair of punts and a couple of fumbles. The second fumble came five yards out from the end zone.

It wasn’t until the last full drive of the second quarter that the Jesse Bethel High junior quarterback Kylan Mcneal broke open the scoring with a 15-yard rushing touchdown. The Jaguars were set up to pounce following a Titans punt from the 20 yard line that went straight up and bounced five yards backward.

Coming out of halftime, Mcneal capped off a long and methodical Jaguars drive, scoring his second straight rushing touchdown — which was all the scoring they needed. 

Having no time to even complete a third quarter drive on offense, the Titans held possession going into the final frame. Hercules High sophomore quarterback Russell Fields then got his team on the board, making it a one-score game using an eight-yard touchdown via ground with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Fields has been taking snaps the majority of the season in place of injured starter sophomore Zyiere Carter-Moore. 

“(Fields) had a hard season, we put him through the ringer and he showed up bigger than ever for us tonight,” said Meshack.

The Titans’ momentum snowballed when they forced Jesse Bethel High into a three-and-out punt and only about two minutes off the game clock.

Just 25 yards away from crossing the goal line and a potential game-tying two-point conversion, Hercules High again turned the ball over on downs. Taking over on offense with around three minutes left, the Jaguars were able to ice the game at 14-6 by running out the clock following a first down.

“Tonight we fought hard,” said Meshack. “We didn’t get everything to go our way, but the guys responded, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

The two teams did not play each other this century until joining the same league in 2021. Hercules High won the first head-to-head bout but has since experienced a trio of consecutive losses.

“It was fun to play Jesse Bethel; they’re always good competition,” said 300-pound senior lineman Gabriel Symonds, who’s played in all four matchups with the Jaguars. “I’m going to miss this next year.”

Losing 10 straight TCS league games over the last three years, the Titans are 2-23 overall during that time. They hold only one winning overall winning record since 2017 and are currently ranked No. 980 out of 1,047 California high school varsity football teams.

But Meshack says he is focusing on the positives and looking at the bigger picture.

“We’re trying to raise husbands and fathers of the future, we can care less about wins and losses,” said Meshack. “We’re winning in the classroom — we didn’t lose anybody to eligibility.”

In their final two games, Hercules High will try to get their first road win of the season (0-3). The Titans’ nine fourth-year players can spoil a couple of senior nights themselves, first against 0-7 Richmond High on Friday. 

“I’m disappointed, but we got two more left, so I have to let it go,” said senior Titans captain linebacker and running back William Tuinauvi. “We definitely need to work on our communication and just go out there and leave it all out on the field.”

They conclude by facing 4-5 St. Patrick-St. Vincent High — Meshack’s alma mater — on Nov. 8. 

“It’s going to be personal when I step out on that field,” Meshack said.

Having had their only wins come courtesy of away games, the Jaguars will look to earn their first home win this campaign in their last pair of matchups. Jesse Bethel High opposes 5-4 Kennedy High on Saturday, before trying to send their 13 seniors out on a high note versus Richmond High on Nov. 8.