By David Folse, Contributing writer
One of the nation's premier prep football programs continued its dominance over in-state opponents as John Curtis Christian School Patriots easily defeated Catholic League rival Jesuit 35-14 at Tulane's Yulman Stadium at Benson Field on Friday night in the Sanderson Farms/New Orleans Saints Louisiana High School Game of the Month.
With the victory, the Patriots move to 7-0 and remain a perfect 3-0 in District 9-5A, while the Blue Jays drop to 4-3 at 2-2 in District 9-5A. The win for the Patriots is their 34th consecutive regular season victory over an in-state opponent. John Curtis has the record for the longest winning streak in the history of Louisiana high school football, winning 43 consecutive games twice from 1979-1982 and 1983-1986.
The Patriots got off to a quick start as on their second play from scrimmage Corey Wren scampered 46 yards for a touchdown, giving John Curtis a 7-0 advantage. After stopping Jesuit on fourth down inside the John Curtis 35, the Patriots went 69 yards in six plays, culminating with a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Collin Guggenheim to make it 14-0.
Up 14-7 midway through the second quarter, the Patriots extended their lead to two touchdowns when Wren scampered 26 yards for his second touchdown to make it 21-7.
The John Curtis defense continued to clamp down on the Blue Jays in the second half. Senior cornerback Dante Thomas intercepted Jesuit quarterback Grant Jordan for the second time in the third quarter and three plays later Guggenheim found the end zone again, a 12-yard burst up the middle to put the game out of reach, giving John Curtis a comfortable 28-7 advantage.
"It was all about staying in your right coverage and making sure that you were covering the right guy," Thomas said. "When everyone in the secondary does their job, that is when you know you are playing successful football.
"The goal was to stop Jesuit's top two receivers and if we were able to do that then you know you are going to have a chance to win the ballgame. Our goal in the secondary was to try and stop them from catching any balls really, but fortunately enough for us, we were able to intercept three passes that really stopped them from developing any sort of rhythm offensively. Once we got that first interception, it almost seemed like the second and third one was that much easier. You aren't thinking anymore, you are just back there reacting and doing your job."
Guggenheim found the end zone for a third time early in the fourth quarter from a yard out to make it a 35-7 ballgame. Jesuit's last score came late in the fourth quarter when Jordan scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Both squads hit the road next week in league play as the Patriots travel to take on Holy Cross and Jesuit travels to Archbishop Shaw.
