Vermilion Catholic Quarterback Jonathan Dartez Breaks All-Time Touchdown Record in Louisiana

It was a great Friday night for Vermilion Catholic Screamin' Eagles football. Not only did the team defeat the Kentwood Kangaroos 33-0 to qualify for the Division IV Select State Championship Game on Thursday, but the team's quarterback also broke a huge state record.

Screamin' Eagles quarterback Jonathan "Jon-Jon" Dartez scored five touchdowns in Friday night's win (four rushing, one passing). That put him at 173 touchdowns for his career making him Louisiana's all-time leader in total touchdowns.

Dartez passed Lafayette Christian Academy great JuJuan Johnson, who previously held the mark at 171 total touchdowns. Johnson graduated from LCA in 2024 and is currently a member of the LSU Tigers football team.

Dartez and Johnson have some similarities. Both were thrust into starting quarterback roles early on in their respective freshman seasons due to injury and neither one relinquished the job for the rest of their high school careers.

Dartez has scored touchdowns in four different ways throughout his career -- rushing, receiving, punt, and kick returns.

Of course, Dartez has one more game to try and pad his stats a bit. The #1-seeded Vermilion Catholic Screamin' Eagles (13-0) will face #11-seeded Ouachita Christian Eagles (13-1) for the Division IV Select State Championship. That game will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at noon at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

On a side note, Dartez has yet to receive a scholarship to play football at any level. Even though he is not the tallest for a quarterback (about 5'8"), one would think that an outstanding athlete such as him could find some school that would want him in some capacity on a football field.

Give credit to Jon-Jon though as he has a great head on his shoulders about this. "I am going to go where the Lord wants me," he told the Abbeville Meridional after Friday's game. "If no school wants to give me a scholarship, that is their fault."

Dartez also excels on the baseball diamond and from what we've heard, there is a better chance that he has of being offered a baseball scholarship.

Whatever the future holds for this young man, his selflessness and leadership will no doubt help him go far in life.

Congrats Jon-Jon!