How LSU football's Walker Howard had a hand in St. Thomas More's state title-winning TD pass
NEW ORLEANS – Quarterback Sam Altmann followed in the footsteps of a star.
Walker Howard — the four-star, top-50 recruit and LSU freshman quarterback — was THE man at St. Thomas More. He threw for 2,394 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Cougars last season while Altmann, then a sophomore, shared backup duties with Will Taylor.
So when Howard left for LSU after the Cougars fell in the LHSAA Division II football state semifinals, the biggest question heading into the year was how St. Thomas More would cope without its superstar.
It turns out the Cougars were just fine.
St. Thomas More won the Division II Select state championship Friday, defeating in-city foe Lafayette Christian 52-48 at the Superdome. Altmann completed 22-of-39 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns.
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"I've been involved in over 500 (games), I know," coach Jim Hightower said. "That's a wild game for sure."
Altmann didn't start the entire season, trading starting snaps with Taylor at the beginning. But Altmann eventually won the job and never looked back.
But what helped Altmann get to that place was in part thanks to Howard.
"He showed me so much more on the mental side than the physical side because he could throw it out of the stadium if he wanted to," Altman said.
Understanding coverages and how defenses were trying to dictate the Cougars' offense were key lessons learned.
"If it's two high, the middle of the field is going to be open. If they're in man, just look for the matchup," Altmann said. "Just post-snap reading and post-snap."
At the most critical juncture of the championship game, Altmann's knowledge was tested.
Trailing by three points, St. Thomas More got the ball back at its own 46-yard line with 58 seconds left to play. The Cougars had just recovered an onside kick after scoring a touchdown to cut down the lead on that prior drive.
Altmann dropped back on the first play and saw the safety drop down to the 10-yard out-route that wide receiver Tanner Hornback was running. By properly reading the play, Altmann found a window to throw it to Connor Stelly, who was streaking down the field.
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The coverage was tight and a second defender eventually joined in on the coverage, but Altmann still let it rip.
"I knew Stelly could go make a play for me because he's a really really talented dude," Altmann said.
Stelly made the catch and scored the go-ahead touchdown. Lafayette Christian got the ball back with 43 seconds left but the Knights couldn't generate a comeback, as quarterback Ju'Juan Johnson's pass was intercepted to end the game.
The win clinched the Cougars' fourth state championship and forever etched Altmann in the St. Thomas More history books.
Just like his predecessor.
"I just wanted this team to come together and play the best we could ever play," Altmann said. "That's what we did (Friday)."
Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: St Thomas More football QB credits LSU's Walker Howard in championship
