10 John Curtis vs. Edna Karr eye-catchers

A decision by the LHSAA to not yet sanction longtime, legendary John Curtis coach J.T. Curtis as the new national record-holder in career wins appeared to leave his Patriots eager to send a message — or several — in their regular-season finale.   The defending Division-I Select state champions jumped on previously undefeated Edna Karr early, smothered the Cougars' typically explosive offense and rolled to an emphatic 41-7 statement win that shook up the seedings for the upcoming playoffs.   As J.T. Curtis fielded questions regarded his perspective on his 622nd victory on the field and the complexities to its context, he repeatedly directed back to the impressive play of his Patriots to hand Karr its largest defeat in more than 15 years.   <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=yXrPSKOJdn4 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='913897' first='Corey' last='Adams Jr.'] — 6-4, 240 DL — Edna Karr (2025)   The Cougars had a long, frustrating night that they will hope to either largely forget or to use as a wake-up call or spark heading into the postseason. But the junior defensive lineman had some of the team's biggest highlights with a couple explosive tackles behind the line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221227' first='Logan' last='Barnes'] — 6-0, 255 DL — John Curtis (2025)   The junior defensive tackle played some inside and some out and was a disruptive anchor up front for a dominant overall defensive effort by John Curtis. Barnes played huge in both games of the Patriots' game that Prep Redzone Louisiana attended, this time with multiple stops behind the line and other hurries that helped set up stops by his teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221211' first='Trey' last='Brown'] — 5-10, 165 DB — John Curtis (2025)   The junior cornerback was one of the leaders of a stingy defensive effort that largely shut down a typically explosive Cougars offense with two SEC-committed wide receivers. Brown and the Patriots were able to keep those weapons in front of them and consistently make great plays on balls in the air, while breaking down quickly, swarming and effectively tackling any pass-catchers or ball-carriers underneath the coverage to the outside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221222' first='Xavier' last='Brown'] — 5-11, 150 WR/DB — John Curtis (2025)   The junior receiver had one of the game's most pivotal plays with a leaping catch on a second-quarter fourth-and-4 over a defender for a 21-yard touchdown. The Patriots' first of three passing touchdowns helped double the lead and continue building momentum, rather than hand possession back to Edna Karr in a one-possession game.   [player_tooltip player_id='675900' first='Dagan' last='Bruno'] — 6-2, 185 QB — John Curtis (2024)   The senior quarterback was exceptional and balanced in another high-profile matchup in which he and the Patriots showed their passing ability more than often credited. Bruno popped an early 38-yard run to set up the first John Curtis score and did a great job orchestrating the option offense with he and a trio of running backs all making big plays on the ground. But he also completed all but two of his passes for 155 yards and three scores, including the aforementioned fourth-down connection.   <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=VG_Kybqrlqs </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='901569' first='Zachary' last='Drake'] — 6-3, 210 LB/DL — John Curtis (2024)   The senior was a disruptive force off the edge, making multiple emphatic stops well behind the line. John Curtis coaches pointed Drake out in the spring as one of their top players in the front seven to watch this fall, and he hasn't disappointed with his long frame, quickness and strong, sure tackling.   Trey Mitchell — 6-0, 180 WR — John Curtis (2024)   The senior receiver caught Bruno's second and third passing touchdowns, one over the top of the Karr defense on a nice over-the-shoulder catch and another on a sideline catch on which he broke a tackle and pulled away for the long score.   Richard Newby — 6-0, 255 OL — John Curtis (2024)   The senior center was among the top performers in an excellent performance up front by the Patriots against a stout Edna Karr defense loaded with prospects. Newby battled big defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='710991' first='Richard' last='Anderson'], one of Louisiana's top junior prospects, much of the night and was able to get off the ball, keep him largely at bay and help spring some of the team's best runs between the tackles, including a 51-yard dash by Kaheam Smith almost untouched to the end zone.   [player_tooltip player_id='901578' first='Anthony' last='Smith Jr.'] — 5-10, 210 LB — John Curtis (2025)   Another of the Patriots' disruptive defensive standouts, the junior was involved in multiple tackles for loss among the leaders of a linebacking corps — with [player_tooltip player_id='920684' first='Jeffrey' last='Curtis'] and Benjamin Barron — that flew around and and shut down the Cougars.   <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=bB4qIxkJP4k </div></figure>

A decision by the LHSAA to not yet sanction longtime, legendary John Curtis coach J.T. Curtis as the new national record-holder in career wins appeared to leave his Patriots eager to send a message — or several — in their regular-season finale.