Top Performers: U-High vs. Madison Prep
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University Lab didn’t score first, but had started taking full control of a highly anticipated district battle by the second quarter and kept rolling in the third. Madison Prep provided its best punches to the Cubs’ 24-point lead in the…
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Continue ReadingUniversity Lab didn’t score first, but had started taking full control of a highly anticipated district battle by the second quarter and kept rolling in the third.
Madison Prep provided its best punches to the Cubs’ 24-point lead in the fourth quarter, before the reigning Class 3A champions’ rally deflated with a controversial call of a roughing the punter penalty in the final minutes.
The flag granted an additional first down with which U-High managed to keep moving the clock and chains to secure the 37-29 victory.
Check out more details below on some of the Cubs’ top performers.
And click here for more from the Madison Prep side of the Baton Rouge showdown of state championship hopefuls.
ESTABLISHED STAR
Running back Derrick Graham (5-11, 205), nicknamed “Rodeo,” has been a star and workhorse for the Cubs his entire career and was reliable as always in the primetime battle with Madison Prep. Graham was a particular go-to anywhere near the goal line, where he was somewhere between a downhill bowling ball and a points-seeking missile en route to a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion to help the Cubs build their lead.
EX-FACTOR(S)
The Graham-led running game, with fellow senior Brian Beck Jr. (6-1, 210) as a key complement, and the loaded defense were well-known commodities for title-hopeful U-High from as far back as the spring. The question mark was which quarterback would win a position battle and the reins of the offense and how they would perform to provide some balance on that side of the ball. Blake Abney (5-11, 175) was fantastic against the Chargers with an efficient 191 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The junior quarterback not only effectively distributed the ball to Jason Barnes Jr. (5-8, 150) on quick hits that the senior speedster turned into 107 yards and a 58-yard score, but also dropped a perfectly placed 35-yard touchdown over the shoulder of senior Edan Stagg Edan Stagg 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR University Lab | 2022 State LA (6-1, 175) in the back of the end zone and threaded an 11-yard dart through traffic to sophomore Seth Gale (5-10, 155). So the Cubs appear well-positioned indeed with plenty of balance to make a run at a trophy.
THE NEXT GENERATION
That stingy defense is loaded with veteran stars with college scholarship offers. The most prominent of the bunch, senior defensive back Austin Ausberry Austin Ausberry 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH University Lab | 2022 State LA (6-1, 185) and junior linebacker Jaiden Ausberry Jaiden Ausberry 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB University Lab | 2023 State LA (6-2, 200) both made several plays. Senior defensive tackle Nick Williams Nick Williams 6'2" | 300 lbs | DL University Lab School | 2022 LA Jr. (6-2, 290) set a physical tone up front with senior defensive ends Jabari Johnson Jabari Johnson 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL University Lab | 2022 State LA (6-3, 235) and Banks Moore (5-11, 205) and junior Jackson Forbes (6-2, 210). And senior linebacker Roman Pitre Roman Pitre 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB University Lab | 2022 State LA (6-6, 230) and senior safeties Justin Collins Justin Collins 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB University Lab | 2022 State LA (6-2, 180) and Dillon Smith (5-10, 165) flew all over the field largely stymying the potent Chargers attack, especially for the first three-plus quarters. But some of the Cubs’ underclassmen were among the stars of the night. Sophomore linebacker Harry Beacham (6-0, 195) was right there in the “all over the field” category, making one strong tackle after another. Freshman linebacker Keylan Moses Keylan Moses 6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH University Lab | 2025 State LA (6-1, 215) was on the heels of Chriss as much as anyone with constant pressure in the backfield. And sophomore defensive back Tony Burns Tony Burns 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB University Lab | 2024 State LA (6-0, 180) — the younger brother of LSU safety Major Burns, who coincidentally played at Madison Prep — darted into the backfield untouched for a big sack, broke up a pass and made another couple tackles.