Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
There's a nationally televised showdown in Texas this weekend, featuring a proud Texas program and a national power from another state.
No, Southlake-Carroll vs. Miami Northwestern is not re-airing; rather, the Longview Lobos are hosting the John Curtis Patriots (La.) in a huge interstate clash that has largely flown under the national radar in the wake of the Carroll-Northwestern extravaganza.
Everything about this matchup seems second rate, except for the teams involved. The Southlake Carroll game was aired on ESPNU; the Longview game, Fox Sports Net. The Dragons and Bulls had a 6 p.m. primetime game; the Lobos and Patriots, an 11 a.m. start, before major college games get underway.
The two teams involved have track records that speak for themselves, and they can hardly be considered pedestrian programs. The John Curtis Patriots are all too familiar with success--in state, out of state, and in post season play. The Lobos are traditionally one of the top 5A teams in Texas, and are coming off a District 12 championship.
Mutual respect between the two teams abounds.
"John Curtis is going to do what they've been doing for years: Get in split backs and run the veer. They will not get impatient, and will keep pounding the ball," said Longview head coach John King, a Louisiana native who experienced a loss at the hands of John Curtis during his high school playing days.
Jeff Curtis, assistant coach and son of John Curtis head coach J.T. Curtis, was equally reverent toward an accomplished Longview program.
"It's getting downplayed a bit because they have that loss [to Lufkin] and because of what Southlake Carroll is doing. But we feel like they're going to be a top 10 5A team in Texas," he said.
While neither team has athletes who have received the fanfare that the likes of Carroll's Riley Dodge or Northwestern's Marcus Forston have garnered, both Longview and John Curtis have talented players who wouldn't miss a beat playing for most teams in the country.
Running back Mark Johnson and wide receiver Travrus Brown pace the Lobos ground attack, while senior Jazmon Moon, a converted running back, is thriving at linebacker. Curtis, who has watched Moon on film, described him as "excellent" on the defensive side of the ball.
Meanwhile, the Patriots potent veer offense is led by quarterback Matt Saucier and running backs Kenny Cain and Blaine LeBlanc. Jordan McKnight, whose brother Joe was a MaxPreps All American with the Patriots last season, is an additional threat, having already racked up 289 all-purpose yards this season.
If the Lobos are going to establish a passing attack, they'll have to do it against a top-notch Patriots secondary, perhaps the best in the country. Alex Lauricella, P.J. Smith, and Robbie Green are all highly touted recruits who have helped hold opponents to 22 total points in three games.
Another intriguing dynamic to the game is that it will mark the first time a southern Louisiana team has taken on a Texas opponent. Teams from the northern part of the state have played in Texas, but no team from the New Orleans area has made the trek.
"I think it's a big measuring stick, not only Texas vs. Louisiana, but the teams from northwest Louisiana vs. the southern teams in Louisiana," said Curtis. Last season, West Monroe, a northwest Louisiana team, clipped Longview 19-15.
This game can also be a stepping stone for Longview. A victory against John Curtis could thrust the Lobos into a discussion of Texas` top team. Remaining humble, King said he believed Longview was on par with the Katys, Cedar Hills, and Smithson Valleys of the state, but thought Southlake Carroll was a notch above the rest.
When asked what Longview needed to do to rise to that level, King said, "win 79 out of 80, and three state championships."
Ironically, neither team sought out the game as a first option. Longview needed to find an opponent after West Monroe canceled their scheduled game. John Curtis traditionally has a hard time finding teams willing to play it. After being unable to find a local opponent, the team decided to travel to Longview rather than have a second bye week, which can disrupt team rhythm.
The biggest beneficiary of this unique match up will most likely be the fans--the more than 10,000 expected to show up at the gate, and the countless who will watch on television. Though not as widely popular as Southlake Carroll vs. Miami Northwestern, it is still a Texas power against an elite out-of-state team, and it doesn't get much better than that.