John Curtis pulled off more than a comeback on Saturday as the Patriots defeated St. Augustine in a District 9-5A game at Yenni Stadium.
It kept alive the chance of a crucial showdown against Edna Karr in week 10.
Curtis and Karr are among several local teams tied with undefeated district records and could close next week’s district game in an all-out championship decider.
Here’s a look at those district races – the ones where two teams lead – and how they might be decided in recent weeks.
District 7-5A
In this week: Destrehan and East St. John will play for the 7-5A Championship at Joe Keller Stadium in LaPlace.
State of things: Both teams hold 8-0 records and the game, scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., will be the district finals for East St. John.
What’s next: A win for Destrehan would at least give the Wildcats a share of the district championship with one game left against Thibodaux. But East St. John would own the district title outright with a win before these Wildcats wrap up the regular season with a non-district game against Holy Cross.
District 9-5A
In this week: Edna Karr plays Rummel and John Curtis plays Brother Martin. Both games are Friday.
State of things: Karr and Curtis are the only schools undefeated in league play – both 4-0. All other schools have at least two district losses.
What’s next: Karr and Curtis will play for an overall championship at Yulman Stadium on Nov. 4 if the teams remain at the top of the district standings after this week. Karr won his first four district games, averaging 36 points. Curtis overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the third quarter, defeating St. Augustine 28-21.
District 9-4A
In this week: Booker T. Washington plays Riverdale on Friday and De La Salle plays McMain on Saturday.
State of things: Booker T. Washington and De La Salle are 2-0 in county games. While Booker T. Washington opened with a 4-1 record in non-district play, De La Salle is 8-0 overall.
What’s next: De La Salle and Booker T. Washington will play for a real championship on November 3 at Tad Gormley Stadium if both teams win this week. De La Salle’s opponent McMain has not scored in five of their last six games. Booker T. Washington’s opponent, Riverdale, lost 48-9 to De La Salle last week.
District 10-4A
In this week: Shaw plays Higgins and Helen Cox plays Belle Chasse. Both games are Friday.
State of things: Shaw (6-2 overall) and Helen Cox (4-4) are 2-0 in county games. Shaw defeated LB Landry 41-14 and Belle Chasse 38-14. Cox won against Higgins 35-6 and LB Landry 20-12.
What’s next: Shaw and Helen Cox will play for an overall championship at Shaw’s Joe Zimmerman Stadium on November 4 if both teams would win this week. Shaw’s opponent Higgins is 0-8 and has not scored in four of those games. Cox could face a bigger challenge against a 5-3 Belle Chasse team.
District 11-4A
In this week: McDonogh 35 plays Douglass on Friday and Warren Easton plays Abramson on Saturday.
State of things: McDonogh 35 and Warren Easton are both 2-0 in county games. McDonogh 35 has a 6-2 overall record. Warren Easton, officially 7-1, had turned a loss to Edna Karr into a losing win when the LHSAA determined that Karr fielded an ineligible player.
What’s next: McDonogh 35 and Warren Easton will play for a real championship at Pan American Stadium on November 3 if both teams win this week. McDonogh 35 opponent Douglass lost to Easton 56-0 two weeks ago and defeated Abramson 36-26 last week. Easton’s opponent Abramson has lost five straight games.
District 10-2A
In this week: Newman plays ML King and St. Charles plays Country Day. Both games are Friday.
State of things: Newman and St. Charles each won their district openings last week — Newman versus Country Day and St. Charles versus ML King. Newman is having the best season overall among the four schools in the district, going 6-1.
What’s next: Newman and St. Charles will play for an overall championship at Newman’s Michael Lupin Field on November 4 if both teams win this week. St. Charles won district games against Newman in 2019 and 2021. Newman won in 2020.
other districts
District 6-5A: Slidell, who has a two-game lead after beating Covington 36-7 last week, has a chance of winning the overall title against Fontainebleau on Friday.
District 8-5A: John Ehrlich, with a one-game lead over Chalmette after beating the Owls 33-28 last week, may win part of the title against East Jefferson on Thursday. Ehrlich finishes the season on November 5th against Bonnabel.
District 8-4A: Lakeshore, with a one-game lead over Franklinton and Salmen, can win part of the title against Hannan on Friday and face Franklinton in Week 10.
District 7-2A: St. Helena, 3-0 in the district, can secure part of the title with a win over Northlake Christian. But Northlake can pull off a tie at the top at 2-1 with a week of play. St. Thomas Aquinas is also 2-1 but does not play either side next week.
District 9-2A: South Plaquemines, with a slice of the title they won last week by beating Thomas Jefferson 53-7, has one non-district game this week and can win the overall title on November 4 against Jefferson Rise.
District 10-1A: Riverside, with a one-game lead over St. Martin’s, can win part of the title against Varnado on Friday and the overall win against Crescent City on Nov. 4.