Boone inks with St. Augustine’s

By Jena Passut | Tidewater News

Published Friday, February 5, 2010

Photo by Jena Passut

LaCurt Boone hugs his mother, Mary, after signing a letter of intent with St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C., as FHS Athletic Director Mona Sumblin, Guidance Counselor Ale Massenburg and Coach Darren Parker look on.

FRANKLIN—LaCurt Boone, who helped Franklin High School to the Group A Division I football championship in 2008, will continue his football career at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. Boone signed to play with the Falcons at a ceremony at Franklin High School on Thursday.

Surrounded by his mother, Mary Boone, Franklin head coach Darren Parker and Athletic Director Mona Sumblin, Boone signed the letter of intent at the Franklin High School Library. Guidance counselor Ale Massenburg, assistant coach David Lease and Lamahjae Boone, LaCurt Boone’s one-year-old son, also were on hand to witness the signing.

Parker said Boone and St. Augustine’s are a good match.

“He’s a team player,” Parker said about Boone, who played both offensive and defensive line. “He has helped the team tremendously. It’s a good atmosphere for him. He’s going to do a great job.”

St. Augustine’s is a private NCAA Division II college and a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic

Conference conference. In the 2009 season, the Falcons were 4-6 overall record and 4-3 in the CIAA. They placed third in the Western Division.

Boone on Franklin’s 2008 state championship team. He had a key fumble recovery in the end zone in the Group A Region A championship game at Colonial Beach. Franklin won that game 16-14 after having lost to Colonial Beach earlier in the season.

The 19-year-old made 2009 first team all-district and first team all-region and found out Thursday he also made first team all-state.

“He’s probably going to play in the All-Star game,” Parker said.

Boone said picking St. Augustine was an easy decision. A big draw was Head Coach Michael Costa.

“When I talked to the coach, he talked about academics first,” said Boone, who wants to study to become an engineer. “He also coached Coach Parker (at Hampton University). If he could coach Coach Parker to the level that he did, I know he can coach me, too. I’m excited about going somewhere where my coach succeeded.”

Parker said the small school’s focus on academics will help Boone excel.

“Before football comes graduating,” he said.

Mary Boone said she was proud of her son for going on to play college ball.

“I love it,” she said, adding that the 6-foot, 5-inch, 250-pound Boone, was born early with a hole in his heart.

“I prayed for this day,” Mary Boone said. “After I had him, I said, ‘You’re the one.’ He’s my miracle baby. Thank God for him. The doctors said he wasn’t going to make it, and look at where he’s at now.”

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