Top Performers: Catholic (Baton Rouge) vs. Archbishop Rummel
George Hart III
In this article:
A rematch of the 2019 Division-I state championship lived up to its billing.
No. 4 Catholic (Baton Rouge) and No. 5 Archbishop Rummel battled back and forth well into the fourth quarter of a tense, physical slugfest between two of Louisiana’s best programs and teams.
And the higher-seeded Bears, the runners-up a year ago, overcame a two-touchdown deficit to topple the reigning champ Raiders, 42-35, and advance to the tournament’s semifinals.
Here were a few of the top performers:
<strong>2021 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63625" first="George" last="Hart III"] — 5-11, 200 RB – Catholic</strong>
The McNeese State target wrapped up the regular season with the first three-touchdown performance of his career, then opened the playoffs with almost 200 yards against a reigning champion known for its defense. With senior quarterback Landon O’Connor still sidelined by his ankle injury, Hart stepped up in a big way to help take the pressure off freshman Daniel Beale’s talented, but inexperienced shoulders. Hart worked behind or alongside Beale in some formations, while also taking several wildcat snaps, and showed an impressive mix of his toughness and balance to keep moving through and out of contact on some plays as well as his speed to take off for explosive plays like his 70-yard touchdown run.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F4Q2YQn-vuc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63630" first="Christian" last="Mannino"] — 6-2, 290 DL — Catholic</strong>
The big man at the center of the Bears’ defensive front has become a "Top Performers" mainstay any week one of the team’s high-profile matchups has been spotlighted. Mannino’s name was the first out of coach Gabriel Fertitta’s mouth when asked about the players that had stood out in the trenches. The scarcely recruited senior didn’t have the same level of fumble recovery or quarterback pressure splash plays as in some prior games, but once again held his own at the point of attack against another of Louisiana’s powerhouse programs and helped Catholic win the line of scrimmage most of the night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Senior DT [player_tooltip player_id="63630" first="Christian" last="Mannino"] getting an arm in the passing lane on second.
Love this kid. <a href="https://t.co/ZxtgukjvHw">pic.twitter.com/ZxtgukjvHw</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335042564999827457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63608" first="Michael" last="Cerniauskas"] — 5-11, 195 DB — Catholic</strong>
The Army commit helped set a tone early with his physicality and, even when Catholic fell behind by two touchdowns, his positivity and enthusiasm, and then helped spark the comeback with an alert interception of a ball bouncing off the intended receiver. Cerniauskas returned the takeaway more than 50 yards down inside the 10-yard line to set up a quick score off the great field position.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvGp6uUFGCo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63725" first="Connor" last="Stewart"] — 5-8, 160 DB — Catholic</strong>
As always, the undersized cornerback used his speed, technique and tenacity to battle taller receivers on the perimeter. Stewart managed to break up a couple deep passes and heavily contest a couple more to help keep the Raiders’ passing game largely off its mark and reliant predominantly on the screen game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="63725" first="Connor" last="Stewart"] in coverage deep with a Catholic breakup. <a href="https://t.co/2wyvMFjdMP">pic.twitter.com/2wyvMFjdMP</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335060707428216834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63560" first="Logan" last="Diggs"] — 6-0, 190 RB — Rummel</strong>
The Notre Dame commitment was the most highly touted recruit on the field at the moment. And he looked the part. Diggs was a constant problem for Catholic to try to contain — especially before briefly exiting the game following a sideline tumble near a drain. He finished with 255 yards and three touchdowns on 35 rushes to account for about 60 percent of the Raiders’ offense.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">First play in the red zone...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a> RB commit [player_tooltip player_id="63560" first="Logan" last="Diggs"] smells the end zone and won’t go down until he finds it.
Rummel leads, 7-0, with 3:55 left in the opening quarter. <a href="https://t.co/1OZFRWCzQ8">pic.twitter.com/1OZFRWCzQ8</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335032017709314049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63624" first="Kyle" last="Wickersham"] — 6-3, 225 QB — Rummel</strong>
The Richmond-committed quarterback also suffered a shoulder injury on a hard hit early in a frustrating night for Rummel in that regard. Wickersham completed 8 of his 19 passes for two touchdowns and an interception. Far from his best statistical showing, but a 30-yard scoring pass to Cameron Francioni was an impressive throw-and-catch by the duo and the interception was pass that was dropped by its intended receiver and ricocheted directly to a defender.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">[player_tooltip player_id="63624" first="Kyle" last="Wickersham"] to Tyronne Hayes downfield for Rummel.
Raiders into the red zone with an additional penalty. <a href="https://t.co/MHVYSJHVqC">pic.twitter.com/MHVYSJHVqC</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335057757150572544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Randy Martin Jr. — 5-9, 198 LB — Rummel</strong>
The undersized linebacker may have been as active as anyone in the Raiders’ front seven that was already missing senior defensive end Caboz Craig to an injury. Martin played with discipline to contain runs to the perimeter, but was able to take good angles and be quick to the ball for at least two tackles or three tackles for loss.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Randy Martin Jr., Anquan Milton and Jalen Pelrean all in the backfield for Rummel for the third-down stop.
Catholic punts. <a href="https://t.co/DVDTMsxQRI">pic.twitter.com/DVDTMsxQRI</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335038349342543872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Keith Robertson —5-9, 140 WR — Rummel</strong>
The senior caught two passes for a team-high 40 yards in a game played predominantly on the ground, but showed his ability to secure a reception and cut quickly upfield through a secondary with his 24-yard score on a short pass.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Keith Robertson takes a screen to the end zone.
Rummel back ahead, 28-21, with 8:02 left in the third. <a href="https://t.co/kGydC04OSN">pic.twitter.com/kGydC04OSN</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335051280222449665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Byron Avila — 5-11, 222 DL — Rummel</strong>
The senior looked and played much bigger than his listed measurables as powered into the backfield and blew up a few key plays, including a rushing attempt on third-and-short that forced Catholic to punt back to the Raiders.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BYRON AVILA with the third-down TFL.
Rummel forces another Catholic punt.
Huge stuff. <a href="https://t.co/cs3RDf6gIO">pic.twitter.com/cs3RDf6gIO</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335056962724229122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>2022 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>Corey Singleton — 5-11, 200 RB — Catholic</strong>
Even with Hart’s explosion the past two contests, his junior backfield-mate has continued an impressive campaign. Singleton rushed 11 times for 122 yards and a 75-yard scoring scamper to improve his season totals to a team-high 645 yards with six touchdowns on 66 handoffs (9.8 yards per attempt).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Corey Singleton.
First play.
75 yards.
Catholic back even with Rummel, 35-35, with 9:21 left. <a href="https://t.co/MeNCJqpmFd">pic.twitter.com/MeNCJqpmFd</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335059308153810947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Emery Jones — 6-5, 325 OL — Catholic</strong>
The junior left tackle with the SEC offers has played a fittingly big role in protecting Catholic’s quarterbacks and helping pave the way for the stable of talented rushers. And Jones did his job again in the physical, between-the-trenches battle, with the victory, 358 team rushing yards and a few pancake blocks for the highlight reel to show for it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Corey Singleton moves the sticks again for Catholic. <a href="https://t.co/iSotUHGz8p">pic.twitter.com/iSotUHGz8p</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335037732331118598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Tre Benson — 5-10, 170 WR — Catholic</strong>
The junior entered the playoffs as the Bears’ receiving leader after closing the regular season with a flurry of critical catches against Acadiana and Woodlawn (Baton Rouge). But, with O’Connor sidelined, Beale participating in his first playoff game and Hart taking a major chunk of the snaps at quarterback, Benson stepped up with two big touchdown runs to the perimeter to stretch the defense to the sideline in the red zone.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tre Benson with the Catholic TD run.
Bears back within 21-14 of Rummel with 1:06 left in the half. <a href="https://t.co/cinGSBG2qn">pic.twitter.com/cinGSBG2qn</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335041078077120513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Wes Woodward — 6-2, 250 DL — Catholic</strong>
and <strong>Jordan Toaston — 6-2, 230 DL — Catholic</strong>
The Bears’ junior defensive ends managed to apply some pressure in key moments, including Woodward forcing Wickersham to pull the ball down and run on a couple plays on which he was attempting to look deep downfield in the passing game and a late third-down sack by Toaston to help secure the victory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Third&10... and JORDAN TOASTON has the Catholic sack. <a href="https://t.co/vH75opWcGY">pic.twitter.com/vH75opWcGY</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335063821011070979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>Prince Edwards — 6-1, 220 — Catholic</strong>
In an era when fullbacks are becoming more rare by the year, Catholic keeps the tradition of the hard-nosed position alive and well. And the Bears’ current junior would make recent predecessors such as Ben Miles, Brian Hibbard and Charles Barhorst proud with his toughness as a blocker and his receiving ability to force defenses to respect him in the passing game.
<strong>2023 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>Daniel Harden — 6-1, 180 — Catholic</strong>
In a contest in which the Bears attempted only nine passes, their budding sophomore standout hauled in four receptions for a game-high 53 yards and a 29-yard touchdown to mark his second straight contest reaching the end zone. The flashes he, fellow sophomore receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. and freshman quarterback Daniel Beale are already showing and the experience they’re already gaining at such a young age, for a program traditionally known more for its stable of running backs, should probably be somewhat concerning to opposing defensive coaches.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Daniel Beale.
Daniel Harden.
Catholic leads, 42-35, with 4:51 left. <a href="https://t.co/P8SAI2kH4T">pic.twitter.com/P8SAI2kH4T</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335062213950836737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<strong>2024 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>Daniel Beale — 6-0, 170 QB — Catholic</strong>
Hart helped take a ton of the pressure off "Baby Beale" in his first playoff game since O’Connor’s recent injury, but the young quarterback stepped up and made the necessary throws when it was his time to bring that element to the offense. He completed seven of nine attempts for 66 yards, including the 29-yard score to Harden.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Daniel Beale somehow gets away from this and completes this pass. <a href="https://t.co/wa0ekWViC9">pic.twitter.com/wa0ekWViC9</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1335054217703251968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in
