Many clinches fourth straight title game trip in win against St. James

Tigers dominant in Division III non-select semifinal victory, 32-13

By LaMar Gafford 

MANY - How do you motivate an undefeated team that is already focused on reclaiming a championship?

Call it the underdog.

A week after rallying back in the fourth quarter against Rosepine, Many defeated St. James, 32-13, in the Division III non-select semifinals to return to the Oschner/LHSAA Prep Classic - held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans - for the fourth year in a row.

“We were already not in a good mood with people doubting us and all of a sudden, we were the underdogs,” Tigers coach Jess Curtis said. “We’ve been undefeated all year. All it did was that it got guys focused and we knew we had to play better.”

Many (12-0) jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead thanks to senior running back Trent Williams scoring three touchdowns and let its defense do the rest.

“We came out with a good game plan,” Williams said. “Not a lot of people get to go to the Dome, but to do it four times, it’s a great feeling.”

In the first quarter, the Tigers stopped the Wildcats with a pair of four-down stops near the goal line and senior linebacker Keaton Montgomery came away with a blocked punt in the second quarter to set up Williams’ third touchdown.

St. James (10-3) got on the board in the third quarter when Brayden Williams threw a 10-yard pass to LSU commit Khai Prean, and pulled to a one-score deficit when Kaden Williams’ six-yard run made it 21-13.

However, Many countered as USC commit Tackett Curtis rumbled for a 52-yard touchdown run to make it 29-13.

“It seemed like we were clicking tonight,” Tackett Curtis said. “We try to get 3 yards a pop and try to hold them on defense. We had a good night (Friday).”

The Tiger defense held serve as junior Swazy Carheel had a pair of sacks in the second half to stymie the Wildcat attack.

Many will face Union Parish in the Division III non-select championship game at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Caesars Superdome.