Judge, Wildcats eye 5-3A title

It’s not often that someone can boast about having two uncles who played in the NFL, but Abbeville High senior starting cornerback Tahj Judge can do just that.
Tahj was born and raised in Abbeville, and his mother, Shameria Judge, is also an Abbeville High graduate.
Tahj’s uncles are Kaplan Pirate football stars Joe Judge, who is also a member of the McNeese Football Hall of Fame, and Donald Richard who also played at USL and in the NFL in the 1990s.
Tahj’s father, Blandon Richard, hails from Kaplan and is Donald Richard’s brother.
Donald Richard played with the Baltimore Ravens while Joe Judge played for the Tennessee Titans.
Tahj keeps in touch with both of his uncles and speaks to Joe almost daily.
Tahj acknowledges Joe’s football prowess at Kaplan and McNeese, and considers him to be a standout player.
Tahj said Donald Richard tried to convince him to move to Kaplan to become a Pirate.
“I could not. I was born a Wildcat,” said Tahj.
Joe Judge, who lives in Sulphur and teaches at Sulphur High School, is expected to be at Friday’s game.
“I kept in touch with Tahj and wanted to make sure he did the right thing,” said Joe. “Tahj is an outstanding athlete and a two-way player. He comes from a pretty good gene pool.”
Joe Judge and his family are also expected to attend the Kaplan versus Abbeville game. When asked who he would support, he answered with “family.”
Tahj is well aware of the significance of Friday’s game.
The team that wins the game is declared the outright District 5-3A champion. It’s been 27 years since the Wildcats have played for an outright football district championship.
The last time they had the opportunity was in 1997, when both Kaplan High School and Abbeville High School had a 3-0 record in the district. Abbeville won the district title and the Peter Russo Trophy with a close overtime victory over Kaplan.
Tahj, a three-year starter, expressed his desire to win the district title, which is a big deal at Abbeville High, especially since it has been so long.
Tahj has played a key role in all three victories against Kaplan, having started as a quarterback for two years before becoming a starting cornerback on defense, with occasional appearances as a quarterback.
He has 25 solo tackles, 13 assists and three interceptions to his name.
Roderick Moy, the head coach of Abbeville High, has observed Tahj’s growth and development in the last three years.
Moy said that he has never seen a student mature so much over such a short period of time.
Moy said that when Tahj was a freshman, some people doubted his potential.
The coach also mentioned that Tahj’s decision to stick with the sport and believe in what they have taught him has made a significant difference in his progress.
“He has stuck with it and believed what we have told him,” said Moy.
Tahj’s success can also be attributed to the guidance and support of his two uncles who have played football at various levels, including high school, college, and the NFL.
“They have helped Tahj stay on the right path and overcome difficulties in both life and football,” Moy said.
Moy emphasized that “having someone to rely on when things aren’t going as planned is a significant advantage for Tahj. When Tahj gets upset with his coaches, he has someone he can contact to keep him motivated and focused.”
Moy said that having two uncles who have played football at the highest level is a privilege that not everyone has, and Tahj is fortunate to have them as a support system.
“Not everyone has that to go home to,” said Moy.