Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — Jordan wide receiver Spencer Curtis’ record-breaking high school career has been impressive.
A starter for the Beetdiggers’ varsity team since he was a freshman, Curtis has been a key cog in the highest scoring offense in the state. The three-sport athlete has 389 yards and five touchdowns through the first month of his senior season, and he has state records for career receptions, yards and touchdowns in his sight.
“It’s fun to catch a bunch of touchdowns and catch the ball and get a lot of yards,” Curtis said. “I’m excited to break them all if I break them.”
But even more impressive is all that he has overcome to attain it.
The son of former UNLV basketball player Michael Curtis has talent on the hardwood, too. He scored 32 points against Cottonwood last season — shortly before a serious injury nearly cost him his final season of football.
Curtis tore his anterior cruciate ligament Feb. 12 in a home game against Brighton. While most athletes require 9-12 months to rehab from such an injury, he didn’t want to miss a down of his senior season of football.
He went to work determined to make it back in time for August.
“In my mind, I’ve got to be positive about it because if you’re not positive and you can’t get through it then you’re not going to get through for about a year,” Curtis said. “I don’t think I would be playing right now if I didn’t have a good attitude about it.
“It went by quick, but it felt like forever. And in your mind, you have to say, ‘I can do it, and nothing is going to stop me from doing it,’ because if you think you can’t, it’s never going to happen. If you think it can, it’s going to happen. You always have to have a good attitude.”
Just three days before Jordan’s 28-21 season-opening win against Desert Hills, Curtis was cleared to returned to play. His total time of recovery? Six months.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” he said. “All the hard work I felt I did paid off. Being back in six months exactly and being able to play in the first game was the best feeling in the world.”
Curtis is just 32 receptions away from an all-time state record, as well as 61 yards and nine touchdowns — three extremely achievable marks that should fall at different points in the season.
Just as important, though, is the chance to play for a state title — another worthy goal for the 3-1 Beetdiggers who opened Region 3 play with a 91-83 win at Taylorsville last week. Curtis hauled in eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns in that shootout.
Despite his offseason setback, Curtis learned a valuable lesson — one he wants to share with others.
“Don’t let anything stop them from doing it,” he said. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, or don’t get down on yourself. Because if you get down on yourself, you don’t want to do that. You have to keep a good attitude about it.”
