Panthers’ Curry sets record with 26 catches
St. Pius X couldn’t stop the offense of Tomball Concordia Lutheran this time around after rolling to a shutout win last season.
It didn’t matter, because the Crusaders still couldn’t slow Grant Gunnell and the Jalen Curry.
The 6-6 quarterback tossed six touchdown passes, Curry hauled in a state-record 26 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns, and the Panthers won 53-42 on Friday night at Crusader Stadium.
“It’s amazing to come back from a loss (to Fort Worth All Saints last week) and be able to capture this ‘W,’ ” Curry said.
“Our confidence is building back up.”
A historic performance
St. Pius, No. 2 in 4A/others, improved to 5-1, 1-0 in its TAPPS 3-I opener.
No. 1 Concordia Lutheran fell to 6-1, 0-1 with its first loss of the season and fourth consecutive against St. Pius.
With receiver Jacob Jefferson (ankle), who has 52 catches for 888 yards and 16 touchdowns, not playing, Curry put together a monster first half, supplying 18 catches for 147 yards and two scores in the first 24 minutes.
Curry tied the 37-yearold single-game state record for receptions with his 22nd on a 15-yard grab for a first down in the fourth quarter. He broke the record on the next play, helping the Panthers go on to take a 53-42 lead on Gunnell’s 10-yard strike to Trenton Waggoner with 7:52 remaining.
The old mark was set by Dublin’s Sammy Taylor in 1980.
Coach Stephen Hill announced the Florida State pledge’s historic achievement to his teammates’ cheers in the postgame huddle.
“It’s a blessing,” Curry said.
“Going back to Day 1 of Texas high school football, it’s amazing to break a record, with all the greats in the NFL right now, like Dez Bryant … (and) it’s a blessing to pass them up and make the record books.”
Ricky Lester’s interception with 3:27 left sealed the win.
Gunnell finished 39 of 56 passing for 363 yards and six touchdowns, giving him 36 scoring passes on the season.
The Texas A&M commit also rushed for 88 yards and another touchdown on the ground.
“He makes it easy for me,” Curry said.
“He’s a great quarterback — the No. 1 quarterback in the nation — and all he does is deliver the ball where it needs to go.”
Special teams errors by Concordia Lutheran helped St. Pius build a 21-7 advantage late in the first quarter.
Starting fast
The Panthers scored on the opening series, with Gunnell spinning around a tackle and diving into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, and took the ball right back after Cody Roberts recovered an onside kick.
Then Gunnell directed a 10-play drive he capped with a 10-yard strike to Curry.
The Crusaders answered quickly when they finally picked up their first possession, with Kendahl Ross scoring on a 3-yard rush, but a fumbled snap on an attempted punt in the next series set up the Panthers at their 25.
Two plays later, Gunnell found Curry again for a 19yard touchdown.
Gunnell had 196 yards and four touchdowns, one rushing, at halftime.