BRADENTON - Jesuit coach Bill Schmitz knew two things about his quarterback situation going in Friday night.
He knew backup T.J. Paratore would make his debut at Bradenton Southeast after starter Chris Uhrig injured a leg against Robinson the previous week. He knew if his team could hang with the Seminoles long enough to need a quick score with the two-minute offense, he felt more comfortable with Uhrig in the game.
So, after hanging with the Seminoles all night and down 23-19 with 1:05 to play, Uhrig made his first appearance needing to go 60 yards for a score and was sacked twice, ending Jesuit's hopes of a comeback.
Paratore, who finished with 155 yards and two touchdowns, came back in but by that time it was too late.
"I thought Chris could take us down the field," Schmitz said, "but he's got a bad wheel and he couldn't run."
Schmitz said Uhrig was more comfortable getting the plays from the sideline than Paratore.
Jesuit had the lead going into the fourth quarter but couldn't stifle the Seminoles in the end. Southeast took the lead late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Marquel Neasman capped a 52-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Will Maxwell.
Neasman completed 8-of-13 for 64 yards and one touchdown. Jesuit had led after Brant McKown caught a 4-yard pass from Paratore.
"There's a lot of hurt in there," Schmitz said of Jesuit's locker room after the game. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. We played one of the top teams in the state and we played toe to toe with them for 48 minutes."
Jesuit scored on the opening drive when Chris Chatterton caught a 25-yard pass from Paratore to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive.
