Top Performers: Edna Karr vs. Warren Easton state semifinal
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Edna Karr looked as strong as ever Friday in a now-annual playoff rematch with cross-river rival Warren Easton.
The No. 2 Cougars and No. 6 Eagles have now faced twice each of the past four years, with the former sweeping all eight of those meetings and each of the past nine overall.
Only 17 combined points separated the teams in the 2017 semifinals and 2018 and 2019 state championship games.
But coach Brice Brown’s squad rolled, 35-13, this time around as they continue to chase their fifth straight Class 4A crown.
Here were some of the top performers.
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<strong>2021 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63719" first="Destin" last="Refuge"] — 5-9, 170 DB — Edna Karr</strong>
One of the Cougars’ most experienced leaders continues to be one of their defense’s biggest playmakers. Refuge’s quickness and read and diagnose plays and speed to close puts him in consistently good position to break up passes or show his physicality beyond his size to make hard-hitting tackles.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Didn’t even have to look at the jersey on this hit + forced fumble to know.</p>
[player_tooltip player_id="63719" first="Destin" last="Refuge"].
(<a href="https://twitter.com/Destinn7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Destinn7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/mRZVlB05y5">pic.twitter.com/mRZVlB05y5</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340127975308742656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63553" first="Destyn" last="Hill"] — 6-1, 180 WR — Edna Karr</strong>
The highly rated wide receiver put the Cougars on the board with a double move and long scoring reception from A.J. Samuel and lived up to a role as the sophomore quarterback’s favorite target, with four receptions for 109 yards, on an evening even more critical to do so after an early exit from junior standout Aaron Anderson.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A.J. Samuel to [player_tooltip player_id="63553" first="Destyn" last="Hill"].</p>
Edna Karr driving again. <a href="https://t.co/RVrZB5QQSs">pic.twitter.com/RVrZB5QQSs</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340106174503501825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Colby Collins — 6-0, 175 DB — Edna Karr</strong>
The Cougars have seemed to enjoy a never-ending string of standouts ready to make pivotal defensive plays this season. And, on Friday, senior safety Colby Collins’ number was among those called. He came away with an acrobatic, nearly intercepted pass breakup to help end one third-quarter drive and then a late interception to help seal away the victory.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Edna Karr senior Colby Collins involves on the breakup.... nearly a nice interception falling down.</p>
Cougars have Easton backed way up on third down. <a href="https://t.co/vutjIpk12x">pic.twitter.com/vutjIpk12x</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340114494828244992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63714" first="Alred" last="Luke"] Jr. — 5-7, 155 ATH — Warren Easton</strong>
The undersized playmaker, considered among New Orleans’ most dynamic seniors this season, was one of the Eagles’ bright spots Friday — and the only one to reach the end zone with the football. "Dash" caught five passes for 99 yards — a 57-yard dash up the sideline to a goal line for an early lead and a leaping catch in the fourth quarter with a defender draped over his back.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">First down. Easton.</p>
Alred “Dash” Luke Jr.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeGone?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeGone</a>.
The Eagles go ahead, 7-6, on the XP.
Mid-1st. <a href="https://t.co/MFW0NGkVUs">pic.twitter.com/MFW0NGkVUs</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340103987664740355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63578" first="Casey" last="Cain"] — 6-3, 185 WR — Warren Easton</strong>
Luke’s more prototypically sized teammate, Texas signee [player_tooltip player_id="63578" first="Casey" last="Cain"], battled through some nagging injuries to lead all receivers with nine catches for 149 yards in his final high school games.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Keddrick Connelly finds [player_tooltip player_id="63578" first="Casey" last="Cain"] for a big third-down conversion for Easton.</p>
The Eagles manage to move the chains a couple times to help field position. <a href="https://t.co/GqxcbX1D8H">pic.twitter.com/GqxcbX1D8H</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340102685006192640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>2022 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>Tory Morgan — 5-11, 194 LB — Edna Karr</strong>
Junior linebacker Tory Morgan has become one of Karr’s most consistent defenders this season. He shows the patience and discipline to fill his gaps, the speed to get to the perimeter and contain and the physicality . Three of his biggest plays came in pivotal moments in the first half: a third-down stop in the first quarter to force a punt and back-to-back tackles on second and third with the defense backed against the goal line to help force an eventual turnover on downs.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tory Morgan (<a href="https://twitter.com/TMorgan427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TMorgan427</a>) and [player_tooltip player_id="63633" first="Karl" last="Odrick Jr."] (<a href="https://twitter.com/_TheRealKarlO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_TheRealKarlO</a>) with a TFL on second.</p>
Warren Easton with a big fourth coming shortly. <a href="https://t.co/FziotVcQjp">pic.twitter.com/FziotVcQjp</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340119908437401601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Jeff Jones — 5-11, 160 DB — Warren Easton</strong>
The Eagles’ junior safety made as many plays all over the field Friday as anyone on his team’s defense, particularly playing down in the box and being disruptive near or behind the line of scrimmage.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Warren Easton junior Jeff Jones has been all over the field in the first half. <a href="https://t.co/6Eyl5J8xwQ">pic.twitter.com/6Eyl5J8xwQ</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340112713033404416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>2023 Recruiting Class</strong>
<strong>A.J. Samuel — 5-11, 180 QB — Edna Karr</strong>
The impressive season of quarterback A.J. Samuel continued with a 17-for-25 performance for 275 yards and and three touchdowns to three different receivers — including a couple well-placed deep balls — and another rushing score. Karr has relied on upperclassmen quarterbacks to lead their past four title runs. But the sophomore now at the helm has held up his end thus far with poise typically beyond his years that provides plenty of reason to be excited.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A.J. Samuel out his end zone to Yurun McMath. <a href="https://t.co/BbzLu6LUGP">pic.twitter.com/BbzLu6LUGP</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340121501455028225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Kylen Lampton — 5-10, 165 ATH — Edna Karr</strong>
The Cougars’ sophomore picked up key slack in Anderson’s absence by showing his own speed, quickness and vision with the ball on his hands for a pair of touchdowns — one receiving on a quick slant near the goal line in the second quarter and one on a toss on a reverse in the third.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kylen Lampton.</p>
Touchdown.
Edna Karr extends its lead to 35-7 on the XP with 3:43 left in the third. <a href="https://t.co/e1HHw6NOsJ">pic.twitter.com/e1HHw6NOsJ</a>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340130828047814658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Ryan Robinson — 6-0, 165 DB — Edna Karr</strong>
and <strong>Michael Richard — 5-9, 160 DB — Edna Karr</strong>
Refuge is excited to know that he, Collins and the Cougars' other senior defensive backs will leave their program's secondary in capable hands after this final playoff run. Sophomores Ryan Robinson and Michael Richard have been called upon early in their career and have answered impressively — even in the team's biggest games. The young duo stepped up again in the semifinals.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Michael Richard with the late breakup for Edna Karr. <a href="https://t.co/0YcqWlhEOE">pic.twitter.com/0YcqWlhEOE</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340134311975120896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Jeremiah Macklin — 6-2, 210 DL — Warren Easton</strong>
Even with veterans like Luke and Cain graduating, the performance of several standout juniors and sophomores provides reason for optimism for the Eagles’ future. And young Jeremiah Macklin’s work from the defensive end was one notable bright spot. The sophomore made multiple big tackles on the edge and disrupted a couple plays in the backfield, including snatching away a fumble on an athletic play just before halftime.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sophomores Jeremiah Macklin and Anthony Skinner with a big first-down stuff. <a href="https://t.co/n8drLQgt0c">pic.twitter.com/n8drLQgt0c</a></p>
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeritRoser/status/1340121374770274304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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