REPLAY: Blocked extra point secures narrow quarterfinal win for Jesuit over John Curtis

NEW ORLEANS – When it comes to the three phases of the game, the conversation is always dominated by offense and defense.

The third phase of the game decided the second meeting of the year between District 9-5A rivals Jesuit and John Curtis Christian.

Joseph Barnett blocked a Tucker Kevepaugh extra point attempt with 40 seconds remaining as the second-seeded Blue Jays edged the seventh-seeded Patriots 14-13 in the Division I quarterfinals. The snap was bobbled on the extra point, messing up the timing.

The game aired live on Crescent City Sports and NASH ICON 106.1 FM.

John Curtis drove 73 yards in 11 plays with Pat LeBranch scoring on a 26-yard run to set the stage for the decisive extra point.

It was a tale of two halves with Jesuit dominating the first half before John Curtis controlled the second half but fell short, as a result of three lost fumbles and the missed extra point.

The Blue Jays looked great early.

After forcing a 3-and-out, Jesuit drove 75 yards in 16 plays, taking 6:54 off the clock with league offensive Most Valuable Player Jack Larriviere scoring on an 8-yard run to give Jesuit a 7-0 lead with 3:55 to play in the first half.

Jesuit forces another 3-and-out and mounted another long scoring drive, this time 65 yards in 12 plays, using 4:44 to do so with Larriviere scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 14-0 with 10:23 to play in the half.

John Curtis got it going on its next possession, driving 73 yards in 11 plays with Buddy Taylor scoring on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Jesuit outgained John Curtis 222-79 in the first half but had just a 7-point lead.

The second half was a different story with John Curtis outgaining the Blue Jays 154-54.

Taylor went down with an injury with just over eight minutes to play in the third quarter and sophomore Dagan Bruno came on.

The Patriots lost three fumbles, one on a botched snap, one on a fumbled punt and another on an errant pitch on an option play with Andrew Besh recovering two of those fumbles for Jesuit before the Patriots got the ball with 3:33 to play and mounted their final scoring drive.

After the blocked extra point, Jesuit recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the victory.

Larriviere finished with 29 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns and completed 7-of-11 passes for 64 yards.

LeBranch had 10 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Jesuit, which defeated John Curtis in the 2014 state championship game before losing eight straight to the Patriots, posted its second win of the year over Curtis, whom it defeated 17-13 on Oct. 15. Jesuit joined Rummel (2015) in being just the second team to beat the Patriots twice in one season.

The Blue Jays are in the semifinals for the first time since winning the state title in 2014.

Jesuit (9-0) advances to face yet another rematch, this time against Catholic League rival Brother Martin. The 11th-seeded Crusaders ripped No. 3 Byrd 45-14 in Shreveport.

In a triple overtime thriller, Brother Martin prevailed 20-14 on Sept. 24, a result that was later overturned with the win awarded to the Blue Jays by forfeit.

FINAL
JESUIT 7 7 0 0 14
CURTIS 0 7 0 6 13

First Downs:
JESUIT 15
CURTIS 11

Turnovers:
JESUIT 0
CURTIS 3

Sacks:
JESUIT 0
CURTIS 1

Penalties:
JESUIT 7 for 59 yards
CURTIS 2 for 9 yards

Rushing Yards:
JESUIT 212
CURTIS 106

Passing Yards:
JESUIT 64
CURTIS 119

Total Yards:
JESUIT 276
CURTIS 225

Individual Rushing:
JESUIT—Jack Larriviere 29 carries for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns, Jaron Duplessis 13 carries for 71 yards, Jasper Parker 10 carries for 38 yards

CURTIS—Pat LeBranch 10 carries for 71 yards and 1 touchdown, Buddy Taylor 8 carries for 29 yards and 1 touchdown, Anthony Smith 2 carries for 4 yards, Dagan Bruno 3 carries for 3 yards, Tucker Tevepaugh 1 carry for 2 yards

Individual Passing:
JESUIT—Jack Larriviere 7-of-11 for 64 yards

CURTIS—Dagan Bruno 10-of-14 for 114 yards, Buddy Taylor 1-of-2 for 5 yards

Individual Receiving:
JESUIT—Jason Thompson 2 catches for 28 yards, Jaron Duplessis 3 catches for 19 yards, Hollis McDaniel 1 catch for 10 yards, Jace Larsen 1 catch for 7 yards

CURTIS—Michael Turner 5 catches for 70 yards, Javon Stoudmire-Davis 2 catches for 22 yards, Pat LeBranch 3 catches for 20 yards, Carl Wilson 1 catch for 9 yards