WELLINGTON – Kai’Shawn Curry is a player that few outside of his circle know enough about.
That’s a good thing because it allows for the Palm Beach Central senior to sneak up on the opposition and make big plays in the process.
The 6-2, 160-pound wideout had at least one jaw-dropping moment that helped Palm Beach Central (9-2; No. 3/No. 2 seed in Class 8A-Region 3) push past Centennial in a 49-42 playoff thriller at home this past Friday night (Nov. 8).
With 57.3 seconds left in the third quarter, Curry caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Anarjahe Douriet that sent the Broncos crowd into a frenzy. It was Curry’s blistering speed and the way he outran the Eagles defense that stood out more than anything else.
Curry’s score was ultimately the difference in this one, as Palm Beach Central went up 49-28 and was able to withstand a furious fourth quarter rally by Centennial (5-5; No. 7 seed in 8A-Region 3) in its seven-point win.
“You’ll never know when a play breaks out,” Curry said about his approach to the game. “You just have to be patient and stay humble.”
Curry’s game-deciding score turned out to be the primary reason why he was selected as our Breakthrough Player of Week 12.
“Curry did a great job,” Palm Beach Central head coach Scott Littles said. “He’s been big for us all year since we inserted him in the starting lineup. He’s made some big catches for us. We’re gonna need him to step up again this week.”
Curry has proven to be one of Palm Beach Central’s most reliable and consistent wide receivers for Douriet, who is seen as a highly intelligent quarterback.
“He’s a top talent that can take over a game,” Douriet said of Curry. “I can throw him a slant for five yards, and he’ll take it to the house. He has the asset to go up and get the ball. We have been here together since our freshman years, so we definitely have that connection.”
Palm Beach Central’s second round playoff game – better known as the 8A-Region 3 semifinals – on Friday night at home (7:30 p.m. kickoff) against No. 3 seed Deerfield Beach (8-3) will be Curry’s biggest game yet. It will be a prime opportunity to show college scouts how much he’s really grown since the start of this season.
“We just have to be ready for Friday and execute”, Curry said about the Deerfield Beach game.
