Heading into the Oct. 9 football game against the Irish, Brebeuf Jesuit Head Coach Mr. Matt Geske said he recognizes his team will be physically outmatched going into the contest.

Geske wrote in an email, “When I look at Cathedral, they look like a collegiate roster. Our players are skilled, but we will have to overcome a significant size and strength advantage.”

While the Braves coach noted a difference in overall matchups, his four-star defensive end, Joe Strickland, who is ranked in ESPN Top 300, should present challenges to the Irish offense. That offense is led by senior quarterback Nathan McCahill.

McCahill has led the Irish to a 7-0 record, while the Braves are 3-2. Both teams played Bishop Chatard. The Irish won 39-20. The Braves lost 27-14. Geske said, “Cathedral is favored no doubt, but our team will fight no matter with all they have.”

While the Braves played Oct. 2, they hadn’t competed in two weeks before that due to Covid-19 and team members having to quarantine, Geske said, “It has been challenging but our players are skilled, but we have to overcome the challenge of playing Cathedral.”

Outside of Brebeuf’s two-week break due to Covid-19, the pandemic has not appeared to present a major challenge for the Braves. At Cathedral, football players, along with other students, are allowed to opt to stay home for online instruction and then come to campus for practice and to participate in games. Brebeuf follows a hybrid schedule. Geske said, “Our institution believes that these kids need to be around each other, safely, when possible. The academic level of a Brebeuf Jesuit education doesn’t land extremely well online only like it does at other high schools.”