Vermilion Catholic's Dartez has outstanding performance in state finals

NEW ORLEANS - What an epic way to wrap up your last high school football game! You’re out there on Louisiana’s biggest stage, showcasing your skills in front of thousands of fans and on TV, and it all pays off in the end.
That was the case for Jonathan “Jon Jon” Dartez.
Dartez, the quarterback for VC for the past four years, rushed a record-high 47 times during the LHSAA Prep Classic, the most in its 44-year history. These carries were crucial as he led VC to its third state title, achieving a 33-21 victory over Ouachita Christian on Thursday. 
“Forty-seven carries,” Ouachita Christian head coach Steven Fitzhugh said. “He ought to sleep well tonight.”
Dartez finished with 253 yards, scored two touchdowns, and threw two more touchdowns to finish his history-making career with 177 touchdowns - now the state’s all-time TD record holder.
He was also named the Division IV Select Finals’ Outstanding Player.
Dartez ended his final season with 2,761 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, 1,638 passing yards, and another 23 scores.
During the press conference following the game, Dartez reflected on his roots.
“I just want to give a shout out to the Abbeville and Vermilion Parish,” said Dartez. “I want to thank everyone, including my parents. I know they sacrificed a lot for me to be a VC. “
Carrying the pigskin 40 or more times is nothing new to Dartez. He has carried the ball 40 times three times this year, however. Forty-seven is the most this year.
His longest run of the night was a 44-yard touchdown run with 10 seconds to play in the first quarter. He also had a three-yard TD run at the 8:04 mark in the first quarter.   In the first quarter, he had 113 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
He also threw two touchdown passes. He completed a 12-yard TD pass to Allen McLain III in the second period and a 20-yard TD pass to Jyrin Bessard in the third quarter.  
Two years ago, Dartez was a sophomore, and VC head coach Broc Prejean was a third-year head coach when VC lost 28-14 to OCS in the Superdome.
Now, Prejean has his first state championship as a coach, 21 years after being a part of the school’s first title as a player.
“Super special memory back in ‘03,” Prejean said, “but if I’m being upfront and honest, there’s an amount of emotion and reward far greater than that.”
This season, Dartez set specific goals at the beginning. One goal was to help VC win a Division IV state title. 
On Thursday, in front of at least 15 reporters, including 7 TV reporters after the game, Dartez explained to the media one of the things that fueled him all year.
“In August, one reporter asked me where I see myself at the end of the year,” Dartez said in the press conference at the end of the game.  “I told him I see myself winning the state championship.  The reporter responded by telling me to be more realistic. That response by the reporter  really frustrated me all season.”
 Dartez should no longer be frustrated because he accomplished his goal of helping the VC Eagles win a state title.