By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

The last time John Curtis lost a game, two years ago, East St. John was on the other end.

This Friday night, the two teams square off once again at Joe Keller Stadium. Curtis (1-0), not surprisingly, is the champion of Class 2A. East St. John (1-0) comes off an undefeated regular season, and is kicking off a string of facing three straight 2006 state champions.

But as successful as Curtis has been, not much has changed with them over the past 15 years, says East St. John Coach Larry Dauterive.

&#8220I look back at the tape, we played them back in 92′,” said Dauterive. &#8220The numbers change, but what they do doesn’t change.”

But if East St. John has an edge where many teams don’t, says Dauterive, it is that the Wildcats will not be intimidated by the Patriots.

&#8220Our players won’t be intimidated,” Dauterive said. &#8220A lot of teams are intimidated by them, we aren’t. think we match up with them, size wise.”

&#8220This game won’t be settled in the media. It’ll be settled in Joe Keller Stadium.”

Tickets will be $7 at the gate. Discount tickets are available for $5 at each school leading up to the game.

St. Charles (1-0) @ Higgins (0-1) – St. Charles Frank Monica probably did not want to see Higgins coming off of a loss.

After the Comets 30-6 victory at South Lafourche on Friday, they will travel again, this time to Higgins, a team that Monica says will not only be hungry, after a loss to Lutcher, but also presents a major matchup problem for the Comets.

&#8220They’re the largest football team I’ve ever seen,” Monica said. &#8220On offense and defense, they have major prospects on both sides. I’m very concerned with matchups after watching the film.”

Higgins has a number of players at or over 300 pounds, which could present problems for a small, quick team like St. Charles. Monica says that if the Comets are to be successful, the team must control the ball and keep the defense rested.

St. James (1-00 @ Destrehan (1-0) – St. James proved on Friday night that it means business after dispatching of West St. John 39-0. Can they play, though, with perhaps the most talented team in Class 5A? That is the challenge for Coach Rick Gaille, who brings a slew of his own weapons to the table.

Riverside (1-0) @ Hanson – After topping 40 points in its season opener against Pine, Riverside takes its high octane offense on the road to face class 1A Hanson. Rebels Coach Mickey Roussel wants the team to build on what it did Friday night, while continuing to improve weak points.

&#8220We have to continue to do the things we’ve been doing,” said riverside Coach Mickey Roussel. &#8220We also need to improve our tackling, and we’ve emphasized that in practice.”

Lutcher (1-0) @ St. Amant (1-0) – Lutcher Coach Tim Detillier expects to see an extremely hungry, 0-1 St. Amant team this week that if not for some bad breaks late against Parkview Baptist, could easily be 1-0 right now.

&#8220That will be one fired up team,” Detillier said. &#8220We better come out with our best game.”

Patterson (0-1) @ West St. John (0-1) – West St. John Coach Laury Dupont will again attempt to win his 200th career game at home, but this week doesn’t project to be easy, as a matchup with a high powered Patterson offense looms. Dupont was disappointed at his team’s effort against St. James, and the Rams will have to bring their A-game to get Dupont to a true milestone.

Istrouma (0-1) @ Hahnville (1-0) – This will be a strength on strength matchup – Hahnville’s stout defense against Istrouma’s speedy offense.

&#8220We want to control the clock and keep that offense off the field,” said Hahnville Coach Lou Valdin. &#8220Their best players are on offense.”

Valdin believes if his team can effectively play &#8220keep away” from Istrouma, then the Tigers may stand a pretty good chance to be 2-0 after Friday night.