TAMPA, Fla. — It’s back to the business of football for the Jesuit High School Tigers.

The defending state champions have celebrated, unveiled new banners and got their rings. Now they are preparing to defend the title.

“You go through all the celebrations and stuff like that, and then it’s just back to the grind, back to work,” head coach Matt Thompson said.

It was eight months ago when Jesuit clinched the Class 6A title with a come-from-behind victory for their first state championship since 1968. 

But that was last season.

Now Thompson says the Tigers are beginning the tough task of defending that title.

They enter the 2022 season as the favorite to repeat their win, and are currently ranked No. 17 in the nation.

“The returning guys that had a little taste of some great success,” Thompson said. “And they’re hungry to get back out on the field, and they know everybody is going to be gunning for us. I think everybody has us circled on their schedule and we kind of like that.”

For Thompson, this season presents him with a first of his own: His first season as a defending state champion while serving as a head coach.

He had experience as a defensive coordinator during his time at Armwood High School, and he picked up some tips on how to battle complacency.

“As my defensive coordinator would say, we gotta make sure we don’t smell ourselves,” Thompson said. “And make sure that we’re always working and we’re always hungry, and know that success is only as good as the last game you played.”

“So we just gotta keep it up," he added. "I think just heading into the season with the same rigor and the same tenacity as we always do, and just not let ourselves be outworked by anybody."