By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Once the smoke cleared from the first clash between St. James and John Curtis this season, a 16-14 St. James victory, everyone’s attention turned down the road, to a potential state championship rematch.

The wait is almost over. The game is set for Friday at 5 p.m. at the Superdome, where the Class 2A state title will be decided.

As Curtis blew out Evangel, and St. James convincingly beat Calvary Baptist in the semifinals to reach this point, there was something fitting about the teams defeating opponents that are a mirror image of one another.

Curtis, the defending state champion, has no doubt had revenge on their mind all season long. Since the loss to St. James, the Patriots have taken it out on their opponents, winning by 50, 56, 34, 41 and 19 points in their last five games, all wins.

But St. James has given Curtis what it has lacked since returning to Class 2A in 2005 – a foil. The Wildcats have speed to burn, perhaps the fastest running team in the state. Its wing-T offense has so many options that a team has to have exceptional discipline to defend it, and even if it is athletic enough to matchup, the Wildcats can simply pound you up the middle until you concede the outside.

That said, Curtis is still Curtis, and St. James is working against a bit of history. The Patriots have never lost twice in a season to a single opponent during the 39-year J.T. Curtis era.

Curtis is no slouch when it comes to running the football either. Blaine LeBlanc rushed for over 200 yards on Friday night in the team’s semifinal win over Evangel. The team ran for 356 yards in all – the exact same number that St. James notched in its win over Calvary Baptist. Luther Ambrose rushed for 167 yards in the St. James win, and seems to be heating up at the right time.

It’s one of only two No. 1 vs. No. 2 seed matchups at the Dome this year. Curtis is attempting to win its 22nd state title. St. James is looking to slay a nemesis – and create one for its opponent.