10 Catholic (Baton Rouge) vs. John Curtis eye-catchers

[player_tooltip player_id='139258' first='Daniel' last='Beale'] dropped back past the 20-yard line with six seconds remaining and the season on the line and fired a perfect strike to the back shoulder of longtime teammate and childhood friend [player_tooltip player_id='421643' first='Brooks' last='Wright'] in the front of the end zone.   The play capped a 64-yard, 44-second drive and dramatic back-and-forth fourth quarter — not without some controversy — that lifted Catholic (Baton Rouge) past defending champion John Curtis, 38-35, and onto the Division-I Select semifinals.   The Bears had trailed by double digits at multiple points in the second half before back-to-back scores pushed them back ahead with 3:18 remaining for the first time since the opening quarter.   John Curtis marched downfield for an answer to retake the lead with 46 second left, which proved just enough for Beale and company to escape the hard-fought battle.   The Louisiana (Lafayette) commit completed seven passes in eight plays to reach the end zone, though one — on the play prior to the touchdown — came on an officiating mistake on a sideline catch on which the receiver's right foot was out of bounds.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAR5jwPwHQM </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='139258' first='Daniel' last='Beale'] — 6-3, 195 QB — Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2024)   Multiple teammates and coaches touted the Ragin' Cajuns commit as the "best quarterback in the state" after his impressive performance. And his stat line of 223 yards and three touchdowns on 21-for-27 passing on another 67 yards and two scores on nine rushes only paints part of the pictures. Particularly eye-catching were his pocket presence and elusiveness from the Patriots' pass rush to extend and create plays, his toughness battling through and shaking back from hard-hitting contact and his poise all the way to the final seconds. Louisiana has some other talented athletes at the helm of their respective offenses and some good young quarterbacks on the rise, but right now Beale's teammates and coaches may very well be right.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJK2CRz_Wgo </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='675900' first='Dagan' last='Bruno'] — 6-2, 180 QB — John Curtis (2024)   On top of the senior quarterback's excellent orchestration of the Patriot's veer rushing attack, the emergence of a consistent passing threat with Bruno at the helm was a huge part of their success and continued to be Friday. He completed all nine of his attempts for 173 yards and two scores, including a well-executed and -thrown fourth-down score from 22 yards out. Bruno also rushed for a late go-ahead score.   [player_tooltip player_id='901569' first='Zachary' last='Drake'] — 6-3, 200 DL/LB — John Curtis (2024)   The Patriots' edge rusher wrapped up a strong senior season with another impactful performance with a couple tackles near or behind the line and his hand in helping hurry Beale and make him move around in or flush out of the pocket.   [player_tooltip player_id='421525' first='Jason' last='Gabriel Jr.'] — 5-10, 180 RB/ATH — John Curtis (2024)   The Southern University commit led the Patriots' potent and balanced rushing attack with his 115 yards, including a 47-yard scamper and a goal-line score, and added a 16-yard reception as he continued his consistency as a receiving threat for the offense as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='285662' first='Marlon' last='Prout'] Jr. — 5-8, 155 RB — John Curtis (2024)   Gabriel's fellow senior wasn't far behind him statistically in that rushing attack with 15 carries for 93 yards and a score. Prout was the go-to early, including his touchdown midway through the second quarter to provide the Patriots their first led of the night, and also had one of the big gains on the team's final go-ahead drive late.   [player_tooltip player_id='139472' first='Barry' last='Remo'] II — 5-9, 185 RB — Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2024)   The Bears were without their veteran running back in last season's playoff run and semifinal loss, but Remo helped lead their balance Friday to Beale and the passing game with his 71 yards on 19 carries, including a 16-yarder down to the goal line that helped set up one of his quarterback's scoring keepers.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGfmNsG6dHA </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='546455' first='Erv' last='Smith'] — 6-2, 280 OL — Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2025)   The right tackle was a standout on the Bears' line that, paired with Beale's footwork and elusiveness, did not allow a sack. Smith was consistently on balance and explosive on his blocks, including paving the way for one of the quarterback's touchdown runs, and showed good athleticism pulling around the formation or getting upfield and locating, engaging and taking defenders out of the play.   [player_tooltip player_id='139627' first='Michael' last='Turner'] Jr. — 6-1, 160 WR/DB — John Curtis (2024)   The LSU commit's speed repeatedly showcased his game-changing speed — most notably on a fourth-down touchdown on which he blew across the the face of the defender and toward the deep middle of the field for an easy catch in the end zone, but on a handful of other occasions as well. Turner immediately put defenders on their heels on short screens and swings, threw them off balance with quick shoulder or head fakes and then jetted past them for bigger gains.   [player_tooltip player_id='900867' first='Bradley' last='Wright'] — 5-10, 170 WR — Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2024)   Beale's longtime friends and teammates, the Wright brothers, were his favorite targets, led by Bradley's eight catches and 74 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter on a critical fourth-down conversion on which he ran right by a defensive back on a vertical route. He also flashed his speed on multiple short, quick passes on which he was able to get outside of defenders for bigger gains up the sideline.   [player_tooltip player_id='421643' first='Brooks' last='Wright'] — 6-3, 175 WR/DB — Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2024)   Brooks bookended the scoring with a first-quarter touchdown on which he caught a quick pass, made a defender miss and took off for the end zone and the game-winner with two seconds remaining on which he made an acrobatic, leaping, twisting catch on a back-shoulder throw in the front of the end zone. The Louisiana (Lafayette) baseball signee, with clear D-I football potential, finished with five catches for 72 yards.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nyD1WEY78 </div></figure>

Daniel Beale Daniel Beale 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA dropped back past the 20-yard line with six seconds remaining and the season on the line and fired a perfect strike to the back shoulder of longtime teammate and childhood friend Brooks Wright Brooks Wright 6'3" | 175 lbs | ATH Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA in the front of the end zone.