There’s no better matchup on the opening weekend of Louisiana high school football than the one set for John W. Curtis Stadium at Many High School tonight at 7.
This will be a full-out football war! Many is the defending state 2A champion. Union Parish is a 3A finalist from last season. The two head coaches are very close friends, except for this week.
Both teams looked very good in jamborees last weekend. The Tigers manhandled 5A Pineville last Friday despite a few turnovers while playing a few new players. Union Parish gave Calvary all it wanted in their jamboree.
Many rolled 26-0 over Pineville, setting a tone that pleased veteran coach Jess Curtis.
“We held them to negative 14 yards, no first downs, no completions, and shut them out. It was domination by our defense and we’re real proud of that effort. We expect to be good defensively this year. We opened the second half with a 10-minute drive, which we love to do. We body punch and wear you out.
“We like where we’re at going into the season. Now we’re going to play four tough non-district games, and Friday night we measure ourselves against a team that’s a lot like us. We’re ready to rock and roll.”
The game will feature some of the most highly recruited underclassmen in the nation. Many Tigers Tackett Curtis and Tylen Singleton have many major offers already. Union Parish features running back Trey Holly who also has a magnitude of offers. All three emerging stars have an LSU offer among many others.
Holly will run behind a huge Farmers’ offensive line against a very talented Many Tiger defense in perhaps the signature matchup of the contest.
The game will feature two running teams that like to manage the clock and control the game. Many features a huge offensive line that paves the way for talented senior running back London Williams and super sophomore Jeremiah James.
There’s every reason to get to the stadium early. Tickets are $10 and will, unlike due to the pandemic last year, be available at the gate.
Look forward to the smell of tailgating from the parking lot, fireworks before the game, and then, a show of high-level talent and intensity during the game between two very powerful teams.
Coach Curtis and Coach Joe Spatafora will also add some to the fireworks during the game. They are two very intense coaches.
“We are good friends,” said Curtis. “He’s as intense as they come. He’ll probably get off the bus wearing combat boots. He already sent me a text of a picture with him wearing a Many hat with his team standing behind him, probably trying to get under my skin a little bit.”
This game has been circled on each school’s schedule since the season ended last year. The schools have met five times, with Many winning three.
“They play a physical brand of football, the same style we do,” said Curtis. “This is going to be as good a game as there is in the state of Louisiana this weekend.”
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