John Curtis beats Chalmette 29-0 to secure playoff home game
The Patriots rushed for 292 yards in a district victory that improved their record to 4-6 and set up a likely first-round home date.
By John Ferrari ·
The John Curtis Patriots broke a five-game losing streak with a decisive 29-0 district victory over Chalmette on Friday at Muss Bertolino Stadium.
The offense, which had struggled earlier in the season, produced 292 rushing yards in the win. Freshman Anthony Gabriel led all rushers with 119 yards on seven carries. He scored twice, including a 92-yard run that extended the lead. Jaden Keelen and Jaden Turner, both defensive backs, added 90 combined rushing yards on seven carries between them.
The defense sealed the shutout with two interceptions of Chalmette quarterback Breez Wilson. Senior Craig Connor picked off Wilson in the red zone late in the second quarter, while Turner intercepted the Owls signal caller early in the third. Wilson finished the game 8 of 16 for 97 yards. Owls junior Chase Carter caught two passes for 50 yards and Wilson led Chalmette in rushing with 35 yards on eight carries.
Coach J.T. Curtis credited the recent defensive surge for the team's momentum heading into the postseason. He noted that the offense is beginning to mature. “I felt like our offense is really starting to mature into what they can be,” Curtis said. The coaching staff also gave senior quarterback Luke Delatte playing time during the second half to prepare him for potential playoff scenarios.
The win gives John Curtis a 4-6 overall record and a 2-5 mark in district play. The Patriots finished the regular season with back-to-back district wins. They enter the playoffs ranked No. 13 in the Division I select power ratings, a position that likely guarantees them a home game in the first round. Chalmette finishes the season with a 3-7 record and a 0-7 district mark.
The next step for the Patriots is the first round of the Division I playoffs, where they will host an opponent determined by the final power ratings. The team aims to carry its recent offensive production and defensive stops into that matchup.
