Curtis tops St. Charles with stifling defense

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

SHREVEPORT-The St. Charles Comets’ streak through the post-season ended yesterday when Class 2A powerhouse John Curtis downed the Comets 31-6 in the state championship game.

Kickoff came just after 1 p.m. in Independance Stadium in Shreveport. SCC won the opening toss and deferred to Curtis who elected to receive.

After commiting three early penalties, the Patriots gave St. Charles an opportunity when Curtis running back Kyle Collura fumbled the ball which was recovered by SCC’s Alex Vicknair.

The turnover, put the Comets at their own 11, but they went three and out resulting in a punt which gave Curtis the ball at St. Charles’ 34. Curtis ran two plays before fumbling again, but the Comets were unable to advance the ball leading to another punt.

On the ensuing possession, Curtis’ Joe McKnight brought the ball all the way back for the first score of the game. Unsuccessful on the P.A.T., the Patriots were up 6-0.

St. Charles found their offense on their next drive, going 42 yards in six plays, much of it on a 26-yard run by Comet back Chris Jones.

But an interception for Curtis from Kelby Wuertz gave the Pats the ball at SCC’s 30 before the end of the quarter.

In opening the second period, Curtis marched into the end zone in four plays to go up 12-0 after a failed extra point.

SCC found yards hard to come by with their next possession, and turned it over on a fumble which John Curtis punched in with 8:57 left in the half.

The teams exchanged short yardage plays for the rest of the second quarter to take it into the break at 18-0 for Curtis.

The second half got a bit dirtier with a number of personal foul penalties called after the Patriots methodically drove the ball upfield eating up valuable clock time.

An 11-play, 86-yard drive for the Patriots took more than five minutes off the clock as Curtis went up 24-0. They would post one more on a 58-yard burst from McKnight with 4:52 left to play.

Curtis led in offense with 299 yards rushing, 123 from McKnight. SCC’s Jones was named the St. Charles outstanding player as he got 13 carries for 65 yards. Quarterback Phillip Sutton went 8-of17 for 67 yards with two interceptions. Casey Robottom led in receiving with five catches for 52 yards.