Jackrabbits' Curry ties TD record on way to Moore title
LONG BEACH » Jordan quarterback Jarret Nielsen came into Thursday night's gamee with a handful of 300-yardplus passing performances.
Poly's pass rush made it difficult for Nielsen to just find time to throw.
The Jackrabbits collected four sacks — all in the first half — and senior quarterback Darius Curry took care of the rest with a record-setting performance.
Curry threw seven touchdown passes as Poly rolled to a 56-14 victory and claimed the Moore League title outright in the regular-season finale at Jordan High.
“He's the best quarterback in California,” Jackrabbits coach Stephen Barbee said. “Game in, game out, all he's done is win against top-tier opponents.”
The seven touchdowns tied a Moore League singlegame record and Josh Love for the Poly single-game record set in 2014.
Curry completed 27 of 41 passes for 359 yards and connected with junior receiver Ezekiel Orozco on three touchdowns. Poly receivers Kamarie Smith, Charles Clinton, Jordan Malau'ulu and Luke Buggs had one score apiece.
“Each one of my receivers helped me to get that,” Curry said of the record. “Without them, it wouldn't be possible.
“I knew I was at seven with two minutes left in the game. I was like, `Oh, I want one more.' ... But it's all good. We're going to get it in the playoffs.”
The Jackrabbits (9-1, 6-0) added another league crown to a run that started in 2016. The streak would have been longer if not for a forfeited title the previous year.
CIF Southern Section playoff brackets and pairings will be released Sunday at 10 a.m.
The Panthers (7-3, 3-3) trailed 35-7 at the half, scoring on standout senior running back Jordan Washington's 70-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Washington later added a 20-yard touchdown catch to pace Jordan.
“It was my senior night and I had to ball out as best as I can,” Washington said.
Jackrabbits senior defensive back Cameron Gherardi intercepted Nielsen's gameopening pass, setting the tone for a Jackrabbits offense that consistently had starting field position beyond midfield.
“We executed our game plan, being able to get turnovers,” Barbee said. “I don't think they even got a first down in the first half.”
Leading 7-0, Curry and Clinton had the highlight of the half with a 40-yard score down the right sideline. Clinton made a leaping, twisting catch and managed to stay in bounds to push the lead to 14-0 at the 6:38 mark.
“It's just a connection I've got with DC,” Clinton said. “I just know if he gives me that look, I'm gonna go get it.”
Jordan coach Jon Nielsen said the pressure of Poly's four-man defensive front was “a recipe for disaster.”
Senior defensive lineman Princeton Tusa had two sacks and senior defensive lineman Troy Tamasoa added 1 ½ for the Jackrabbits.
“Hats off to them,” Jon Nielsen said. “We had no answer for their front four and that's why we couldn't do anything offensively. You've got to be able to protect to do anything.”
Curry capped his night at the 4:16 mark of the fourth quarter, needing just one play to find Buggs for a 60yard catch-and-run — the longest Poly scoring play of the game.