More than the numbers themselves,
Curtis (River Ridge, La.) High School senior running back
Sherman Badie's performance against Plant (Tampa, Fla.) High School typified the Patriots' domination of their opponent.
Sherman Badie, John Curtis
Photo by Roddy Johnson
It wasn't enough that Badie rushed 10 times for 94 yards. He did that all in the first half when he scored three times, including once on a 40-yard run off a fake punt.
Along the way, he dodged two would-be tacklers inside the 15-yard line.
In what was billed as a marquee matchup between nationally ranked teams in the All-State Sugar Bowl Prep Football Classic, Badie helped the Patriots take total control before an enthusiastic Louisiana Superdome crowd.
Badie also caught a 26-yard pass and returned a punt 14 yards to finish with 132 all-purpose yards according to John Curtis' statistics.
What's more, Badie's output didn't come against just another team from Class 2A, which the Patriots lead in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll. Instead, Bade made future opponents take notice with his spellbinding effort against Florida's defending Class 8A state champion.
For it he was named the New Orleans Capital One Bank High Yield Student Athlete of the Week.
Sherman Badie simply would not go
down for Curtis against Plant.
Photo by Roddy Johnson
A perennial powerhouse, John Curtis already has made a strong case for securing its 25th state title in its 50th year of existence. It has done so thanks in large measure to the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Badie, who helped the Patriots score on their first four possessions against Plant.
Badie scored the game's first touchdown on a 3-yard run that followed Richard Allen's 38-yard punt return. Badie added a 7-yard touchdown run that capped a nine-play, 73-yard drive that doubled the Patriots' lead.
John Curtis finally appeared to be stopped when it sent its punting team on the field only to have Badie cross up Plant with his 40-yard touchdown run off a fake. That cemented the Patriots' rout of their Sunshine State visitors.
With its stunning effort, John Curtis took over the Southwest top spot in the latest
MaxPreps Regional Football Ratings and they are No. 3 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings. John Curtis will return to Louisiana competition Friday when it faces East St. John (Edgard) High School.
It's a safe bet that with Badie leading the way, the Patriots will again unleash a powerful ground game that amassed 220 rushing yards against Plant, including an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
