Top Performers: Edna Karr vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge)
A pair of nationally ranked programs lived up to their matchup’s hype in Louisiana’s second week of high school football action. Edna Karr looked dominant for stretches of the first half and appeared en route to avenging its lopsided loss…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA pair of nationally ranked programs lived up to their matchup’s hype in Louisiana’s second week of high school football action.
Edna Karr looked dominant for stretches of the first half and appeared en route to avenging its lopsided loss to Catholic (Baton Rouge) in 2019.
But the Bears forced and capitalized on miscues in the third quarter to roar their way back into the lead and provide a more dramatic finish this time around.
The Cougars, winners of four straight Class 4A state championships, finally found their answer to take a 34-31 victory back to New Orleans.
But both teams looked the part of title contenders once again in 2020.
Here are several of the top performers.
2021 Recruiting Class
Destyn Hill Destyn Hill 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 6-1, 179 WR — Edna Karr
The Florida State and LSU target lived up to his status among the top prospects in a strong senior class of wide receivers in Louisiana with seven catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Hill’s speed and route-running gave even a fast, disciplined secondary fits, as he ran himself open all over the field all night. But Hill also showed toughness over the middle and fighting through tackles for extra yards after his catches.
Destyn “Fatt” Hill is having himself a whole night.
Into the end zone for his first score, but a few big catches already. pic.twitter.com/6K1dwyKsp1
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 8, 2020
Destin Refuge Destin Refuge 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 5-9, 171 DB — Edna Karr
Tyrann Mathieu is the gold standard to which undersized, playmaking defensive backs in Louisiana since the “Honey Badger” picked up LSU’s attention coming out of St. Augustine and became a national sensation at the next levels. And, as he does most times out, Refuge drew those comparisons for his instincts, ball skills and toughness — from tackles for loss in the backfield to a game-changing interception in the end zone on which he stole a jump-ball from a taller receiver.
Kenneth Bannister Kenneth Bannister 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 6-4, 286 OL — Edna Karr
The Louisiana Tech commitment is considered by many to be the best offensive line prospect in Louisiana’s 2021 class, and he did his part anchoring the Cougars’ front line from his left tackle position. The Catholic (Baton Rouge) defensive front is among the state’s best. But the play of Bannister and his group was huge in the victory.
Kevin Marigny — 5-8, 170 RB — Edna Karr
The balance provided by the Karr running game often lives in the shadows of the more heavily spotlighted receiving corps. But, running behind Bannister and company, the veteran back was among the highlights of the contest with 24 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown against a stingy opponent to help his young quarterback.
Christian Mannino Christian Mannino 6'2" | 290 lbs | DL Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA — 6-2, 290 DT — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The Bears’ defensive lineman has bulked up about 50 pounds since his junior season and is living up to even bigger expectations up front since the graduation of Army signee Connor Finucane and transfer of defensive end Braelon Hobson Braelon Hobson 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL Scotlandville | 2021 State LA . The still-quick and -active Mannino was a brick wall in the middle that Karr had to prioritize trying to keep at bay.
I love Catholic DT Christian Mannino Christian Mannino 6'2" | 290 lbs | DL Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA (@C_Mannino65).
Been such an active player up front for the Bears every time I’ve seen him. Spent time bulking up this offseason, while maintaining his quickness.
Really waiting for a few D-I’s to join his recruitment this fall. pic.twitter.com/9gvmUyeypr
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 8, 2020
Michael Albarado — 5-10, 210 LB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
Any gaps left by Karr trying to slow down Catholic’s defensive line, the Bears’ senior linebacker seemed to find and dart through for sacks, tackles for loss and hurries. His name might’ve been the most frequently called for either defense on a disruptive night, including a team-high two tackles for loss.
Jackson Demouy Jackson Demouy 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA — 6-2, 187 DB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The transfer from Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Texas, worked his way across the middle of the field and jumped a pass for an interception that helped fuel the Bears’ swift third-quarter run. With fellow safety Michael Cerniauskas Michael Cerniauskas 5'11" | 195 lbs | DB Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA on the mend, Demouy stepped up and made the big play in a critical moment of a big game.
George HARTIII George HARTIII 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA — 5-11, 198 RB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The senior waited his turn behind the Division-I duo of Joshua Parker and Braelen Morgan and made the most of his opportunities as the third fiddle in that group. Now, as the lead dog of a once-again deep backfield, he is one of the leading rushers in the Baton Rouge early this season, including a pair of tough touchdown runs.
2022 Recruiting Class
Aaron Anderson — 5-10, 180 WR — Edna Karr
The junior is now in his third season making plays for the Cougars’ program with a fair claim to its “Second to None” mantra. He put Karr on the board just five plays into the contest with his first of three catches for 65 yards and put his speed and quickness on display on some electric runs on a later reception and a couple of punt return opportunities.
Joe Hayes — 6-0, 200 OL — Edna Karr
Catholic dominated Karr in the trenches in 2019 en route to their big victory. But this year was far more of a back-and-forth slugfest both ways, and junior center Joe Hayes’ work in the middle of the Cougars’ offensive line played a big role in helping his team to a better outcome battling Mannino and the Bears for yardage.
Emery Jones — 6-5, 325 OL — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The Bears’ highly touted big man started earning his way into playing opportunities as a sophomore. Now he’s an anchor at the left tackle position and one of the stars of the team and is transitioning well into the bigger role.
Wes Woodward — 6-2, 250 DE — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
Woodward made his share of plays as a sophomore in a stout defensive front. And with some of the team’s departures, the physical, hard-hitting defensive end is clearly embracing the increased role with consistency and leadership — and said he hopes to live up to the tall task of replacing Finucane’s intensity.
Wes Woodward. My goodness.
2022. Catholic. pic.twitter.com/DUbOjohmZg
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 8, 2020
Kylan Dupre — K — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The junior clipped the bottom of the upright with an impressive opening kickoff to start another solid night of work in which he connected on his four extra-point and one field goal attempt and did his part in limiting the Cougars’ often-dangerous return game.
Josh Robertson — 5-8, 154 DB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The Bears’ junior corner isn’t the long, rangy athlete that larger programs crave, but does have 4.5-second 40-yard speed and an increasingly clear knack for swiping the ball back for his team. Robertson now has four interceptions in Catholic’s past five games dating back to the 2019 quarterfinals.
Jack Massey — 5-11, 170 LB — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
Like Albarado, the Bears’ junior linebacker was in the backfield frequently to disrupt things for Edna Karr. Running a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at a combine even this summer, Massey may be one of Catholic’s fastest defenders on the field with Robertson, Cerniauskas and senior cornerback Connor Stewart Connor Stewart 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Catholic - Baton Rouge | 2021 State LA .
2023 Recruiting Class
A.J. Samuel — 5-11, 160 QB — Edna Karr
Edna Karr’s sophomore quarterback remained poised and got the ball to his playmakers effectively in just his second career start against another stout opponent. Samuel completed 17 of 30 pass attempts for 329 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions despite a few dropped balls on which his veteran receivers could’ve better helped him. But, even when things got tense late, he settled down and led the Cougars to victory.
Johnathon Bax — 6-1, 220 DE — Edna Karr
The Cougars’ front seven didn’t have the type of dominant success against Catholic as they do against most teams in the state. But when Edna Karr was able to generate some pressure without bringing Refuge from the secondary, the young Bax off the edge was usually the one bringing it.
Ryan Robinson — 5-11, 170 DB — Edna Karr
The young defensive back played well in the big matchup and was a big part of Karr holding Catholic quarterback Landon O’Connor to just 12-for-25 passing on the night. He has the change to be one of Louisiana’s top prospects at his position for 2023.
Shelton Sampson Jr. — 6-3, 180 WR — Catholic (Baton Rouge)
The mild-mannered star-in-training appears to be going through some of the same learning process Chris Hilton Chris Hilton 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Zachary | 2021 State LA , one of Louisiana’s top 2021 wide receivers, went through early in his own sophomore year. Sampson is still realizing how talented he is despite his young age and didn’t seem to carry himself with that confidence of being THE guy just yet. But the Catholic coaches did a good job of getting the ball in his hands on a rushing attempt in the third quarter that he took 24 yards to the end zone and flash some of that potential that has Power Five programs drooling.