Ambrose rushes for 3 scores, championship rematch with Curtis set

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Six weeks ago, when St. James defeated district rival John Curtis 16-14, Wildcats Coach Rick Gaille joked that the only negative of the win was that the teams might see one another down the road.

That rematch is now upon us – though Gaille isn’t likely to be all that broken up about it.

Luther Ambrose led St. James with 167 yards and three touchdowns as the hosting Wildcats defeated Calvary Baptist in the Class 2A semifinals, 34-14. St. James will now face John Curtis on Friday at 5 p.m. in the state championship game at the Superdome.

Kenny Zenon added 133 yards on 25 carries, and Gary Davis chipped in 67 yards on seven carries.

“Man, I’m so ready. I’ve been ready for this,” said Zenon on the team’s impending trip to the Superdome.

Said Ambrose: “To get to this point, after four years here, it feels real good. We’re ready. Our offensive line did a phenomenal job tonight.”

The Wildcats (12-2) scored three first quarter touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead, and the offense kept the pressure on from there.

“Our offense has been saying all week that we had to score each time we got the ball,” said Zenon. “Their offense is very good, we knew they could possibly come back.”

But the St. James defense held up its end of the bargain as well. The Wildcats saw Calvary (12-1) score two touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the second quarter and would lead 27-14 at halftime. But in the second half, the defense stiffened, allowing no points.

“In the second quarter, they made some plays in the passing game and I saw our guys hesitating, starting to step away from making plays,” said Gaille. “We told them at halftime to go back to playing fast. When the ball’s in your area, do as you are taught to do.”

The Wildcats did that, particularly in crucial spots. While Calvary quarterback Jake Booty made some big plays in the passing game – he had 261 yards passing, with 131 going to his favorite target Khiry Cooper, he also threw three interceptions.

One of those interceptions effectively ended Calvary’s comeback hopes. With 10:40 remaining in the game, and St. James leading 34-14, Booty’s pass attempt in the St. James endzone was intercepted by Justin Williams, leading to chants of “Superdome!” by the home faithful.

“When I saw it, I knew to just go up and get it,” Williams said. “We needed a big play.”

Ambrose didn’t wait long to put the first points on the board, scoring on the Wildcat’s first offensive play as a 45-yard scoring run made it 7-0.

Ambrose matched the feat soon after, when he would score from 6-yards out after a nine play drive to make it 14-0.

With St. James’ running game working so well, it led to opportunities in the passing game. Marcus Dumas threw 33-yard touchdown to tight end Mason King off a play-action fake, making it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

But Calvary scored to cut the lead to 21-7 when Booty found Cooper for a 9-yard touchdown.

Ambrose again would be the playmaker for his team when it came time to answer. With St. James facing a third-and-26, Ambrose came through for the first down – and then some. His 47-yard scoring dash made it 28-7.

“I knew I had to get 26, I just kept my legs pumping,” said Ambrose.

Said Gaille: “Luther Ambrose is a football player who runs fast, not a fast guy who happens to play football.”

Calvary cut the lead to two touchdowns again, as Hunter Ward’s 1-yard touchdown with 2:53 left in the first half made it 28-14.

St. James finished off the scoring with 1:36 left in the third quarter, when Gary Davis scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 34-14.

St. James rushed for 358 yards in the game. Calvary Baptist, operating primarily from their spread offense in the shotgun, amassed 274 yards passing, but only mustered 1 yard rushing.