John Curtis looks to get over the hump against powerful Catholic in state semifinals

It is a matchup we have seen previously.

While John Curtis Christian has won 26 state championships with another on the field later taken away, Catholic of Baton Rouge has won four state titles on the field since 2015, two of which were later stripped.

On the field, Catholic has won the last two title games with last year’s being official.

The two powers square off again in the Select Division I state semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

On the field, Catholic defeated John Curtis 20-14 in the 2017 Division I state championship game, though the Bears were later stripped of the title.

In 2018, John Curtis gained revenge, blasting the Bears 49-7 in the Division I title game.

In 2019, Catholic blanked the Patriots 14-0 in the Division I semifinals.

This Friday night, the No. 2 seed Bears play host to the No. 3 seed Patriots at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in the Select Division I state semifinals.

“It’s what you shoot for when you start,” Patriots coach J.T. Curtis said. “We played very good competition early in the season and that was all in preparation for our district which is highly competitive. Now, there is just four of us left.”

The Patriots (10-2) advanced with a 35-14 win over No. 6 Byrd.

“I was pleased with our defense,” Curtis said. “Byrd had a 3-year starter back at quarterback who was a really good player. We knew it would be highly competitive. It was very physical.”

Now, the Patriots must beat the defending champion to return to a championship game for the first time since 2018.

“They played a very competitive schedule,” Curtis said. “They were in a very competitive district with Woodlawn and Zachary. They are well tuned. They have been tested. They have the athletes and players with experience. They are a team that has a tendency to reload every year. They have a great program. The coaches do an excellent job.”

Catholic (11-1) advanced by knocking off perhaps the best team in the state in Karr 32-24.

As an underdog, what do the Patriots need to do to win Friday?

“If we’re going to have a chance, we’re going to have to control the ball,” Curtis said. “We can’t give them opportunity after opportunity with three-and-outs because they have too much talent on offense. I think the second thing that’s so important is field position with the kicking game.”

The Patriots were knocked out of the playoffs in narrow fashion the last two seasons, falling 14-13 to Byrd in 2020 and 14-13 to Jesuit in the quarterfinals in 2021.

“It’s been two disappointing one-point losses two years in a row,” Curtis said. “That’s something again, in the kicking game that we’ve got to make sure that we’re able to execute. We start out with our goal to be in this position. We’re going to go out and compete as hard as we can.”

The winner advances to the Select Division I state championship game a week from Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Caesars Superdome against the winner of Friday night’s game pitting No. 13 Brother Martin at No. 8 Carencro.

LHSAA SEMIFINALS

Non-Select Division I
(5) Zachary at (1) Ruston
(10) Westgate at (3) Destrehan

Non-Select Division II
(4) North DeSoto at (1) Iowa
(6) Lutcher at (2) West Feliciana

Non-Select Division III
(4) St. James at (1) Many
(7) Amite at (3) Union Parish

Non-Select Division IV
(8) Oak Grove at (5) Haynesville
(3) Mangham at (2) Homer

Select Division I
(13) Brother Martin at (8) Carencro
(3) John Curtis Christian at (2) Catholic-BR

Select Division II
(4) E.D. White at (1) St. Thomas More
(6) Lafayette Christian at (2) Teurlings Catholic

Select Division III
(8) University Lab at (4) Dunham
(3) Notre Dame at (2) St. Charles Catholic

Select Division IV
(4) St. Martin’s at (1) Vermilion Catholic
(10) Ascension Catholic at (3) Ouachita Christian