CLASS 2A FINAL: JOHN CURTIS 31, ST. CHARLES 6

IT'S A FINAL!
St. Charles proved it had some fight still left, driving to the JC 5-yard line, but they were unable to punch it in from there. John Curtis wins its 8th state title in 10 years....The Patriots have quite a different reaction with winning the state title. After Redemptorist won the 3A title last night, there was hugging, dancing, players sprawled out on the field smiling, one player was kneeling on the field pounding it - a real celebration and a sense of accomplishment.
The Patriots accepted the trophy, formed a giant circle in the middle as everyone jumped up and down and tried to touch the trophy then they headed to the sideline to thank their fans...interesting. I don't know if winning the state title has become routine for the Pats, but there wasn't a whole lot of celebrating judging from their body language - at least not how Redemptorist partied on the field.

FINAL -- JOHN CURTIS 31, ST. CHARLES 6
-Brian Vernellis, 3:24 p.m.

MCKNIGHT IS INCREDIBLE
Colleges have got to be salivating over John Curtis' Joe McKnight. He just scored another TD, this one a mammoth run breaking around the Comets' defense then shoving aside a defender with a fantastic stiff arm. The amazing thing about the stiff arm was that he shoved aside a kid from behind and he still had the acceleration to pull away from two defenders inside the 20-yard line. He's an exciting player to watch to say the least...AND HE'S ONLY A JUNIOR. In the immortal words of the late, great Chris Farley - "Holy Schneike!" Someone made a field goal!

JOHN CURTIS 31, ST. CHARLES 6, 6:45 left in game

For the record, I predicted a 35-7 win for the Patriots while my two fellow writers Brian McCallum and Roy Lang III had JC 31, St. C 7 and JC 27, St. C 11, respectively.
-Brian Vernellis, 3:01 p.m.


ON THE BOARD
St. Charles finally got on the scoreboard with Michael Troglen returning a fumble 28 yards for a TD...It's been one of the few bright spots for the Comets today. Apparently this missed PAT syndrome is reaching epidemic proportions because the Comets can't convert their chance...a kicker, a kicker, my kingdom for a kicker...

JOHN CURTIS 24, ST. CHARLES 6, 0:39 left in third quarter
-Brian Vernellis, 2:46 p.m.

SECOND HALF
John Curtis QB Kyle Collura hasn't returned to the second half. He's been standing on the sidelines with his helmet off with an apparent rib injury. At least that's what we're hearing up in the press box. The statisician might want to make sure he's got the right QB in for JC...even though Matt Saucier has played more than Collura, the stat man still has Collura in the game. Whoops!
There goes McKnight again on another touchdown run, that should ensure the win for the Patriots and his award for the Outstanding Player for the Patriots.
And another missed PAT! The Patriots can't hit one and neither could Notre Dame Thursday night.
JOHN CURTIS 24, ST. CHARLES 0, 3:08 left in third quarter
-Brian Vernellis, 2:37 p.m.

COMETS STALL
St. Charles has had its best success of the game moving the football against the Patriots with this last drive of the half. QB Philip Sutton has made some very nice throws and runs to keep the drive alive, but his last one has cost his team a touchdown. Joe McKnight intercepted Sutton at the 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for a TD, but a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and a block in the back against the Patriots wiped out McKnight's incredible play.
JOHN CURTIS 18, ST. CHARLES 0, halftime
-Brian Vernellis, 1:59 p.m.

ST. CHARLES COUNTERS
Corner Garrad Lodrigues returned an interception to the John Curtis 34-yard line. Patriots quarterback Kyle Collura sat out the last drive for the Patriots and sophomore QB Matt Saucier came in and threw the pick...the Comets are down to the J.C. 25-yard line - the deepest the Comets have penetrated into Patriots territory.
-Brian Vernellis, 1:49 p.m.

OUCH...
John Curtis is all over St. Charles. Linebacker Jacob Dufrene was coming on a delayed blitz and pummeled St. Charles quarterback Philip Sutton inside the 5-yard line. The hit caused Sutton to fumble the ball into the end zone which Dufrene recovered for the TD...2-point conversion is no good.
JOHN CURTIS 18, ST. CHARLES 0, 8:53 left in first half
-Brian Vernellis, 1:38 p.m.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN
John Curtis is threatening again after Kelby Wuertz made an interception and returned it 31 yards to the St. Charles 30 yard line. The Comets were moving the ball too and having some modest success. There is a lot of intensity on the field...St. Charles got whistled for a personal foul penalty and players were shoving one another after a St. Charles player was hit out of bounds. This one has got a lot of fire!
The Patriots are down to the St. Charles 7...two plays later, touchdown! Pats QB Kyle Collura just punched it in from 3 yards out...PAT missed.

JOHN CURTIS 12, ST. CHARLES 0, 9:52 left in second quarter
-Brian Vernellis, 1:32 p.m.


TURNOVERS, MCKNIGHT, OH MY!
St. Charles' first possession didn't amount to much. They didn't get outside their 20.
But, John Curtis next possession resulted in another fumble. That's two fumbles in two possession. There's no question the Patriots can move the ball on the Comets, but they've got to stop shooting themselves in the foot and give St. Charles chances.
Meanwhile the Patriots defense is outstanding, stuffing the Comets at every chance they get.

And there goes Joe McKnight....McKnight, who played for Evangel following the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, returns a punt 55 yards. He made a nifty little move past two tacklers then raced along the John Curtis sideline for the touchdown. St. Charles blocked the PAT...

John Curtis 6, St.Charles 0, 2:26 left in first quarter
-Brian Vernellis, 1:19 p.m.

KICKOFF!
John Curtis is marching down field, but coming up with some penalties to shove them back. A great kickoff return put the Patriots near midfield.
Now, they're inside the red zone looking for their first score. John Curtis went for it on a 4th and long one from the St. Charles 18 and got it by the nose of the football.
St. Charles is stacking seven, sometimes eight, men in the box trying to slow the Patriots' ground game. So far, no such luck.
Of course, as soon as I write it, St. Charles comes up with a big turnover, pouncing on the football. The Comets take over at their 12 yard line.

John Curtis 0, St. Charles 0 6:40 remaining in the quarter...

It's been cold at Independence Stadium, but at least the sun is out to warm fans. As the Times staff pulled up to the stadium there was a slew of St. Charles fans tailgating out by their RVs and SUVs.

-Brian Vernellis, 1:10 p.m.