Playoff Top Performers: Catholic (BR) vs. Edna Karr
In this article:
Catholic (Baton Rouge) pounced on Edna Karr — in, to some, almost stunning fashion — but knew the New Orleans powerhouse would not go down without fight. And when the Cougars clawed all the way back from a 17-point deficit…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCatholic (Baton Rouge) pounced on Edna Karr — in, to some, almost stunning fashion — but knew the New Orleans powerhouse would not go down without fight.
And when the Cougars clawed all the way back from a 17-point deficit to an early fourth-quarter lead, the home-standing Bears had an answer of their own to advance to the Division-I select semifinals, 32-24.
“At halftime, we just knew what kind of fight we were gonna see out of those dudes coming out,” coach David Simoneaux said. “Everybody knows Karr’s got size and speed, but the way that those guys play together and the pride and the intensity and the passion that they have for each other I think is what separates Karr football from the pack.
“I told everybody I talked to all week long that we were going to have to match their physicality, we were going to have to match their intensity, we’re going to have to match their passion and we’re going to have to out-love ’em. And our kids found a way to come together and do those things. And it’s not easily done against such a great opponent.”
Rylan Parker Rylan Parker 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2025 State LA (5-10, 190 RB | 2025)
The Bears were forced to finish the season without standout running back Barry Remo Barry Remo 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA II, whose breakout junior performance was cut short by injury. But a pair of sophomores — Rylan Parker Rylan Parker 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2025 State LA and Jeremy Fisher Jr. Jeremy Fisher Jr. 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2025 State LA — stepped up impressively in big games down the stretch in a way that should position the stable of backs one of Louisiana’s best and deepest to watch in 2023.
Parker led the way in both the quarterfinals, with 98 yards and the go-(back)-ahead score in the fourth quarter, and in Remo’s absence overall, with 775 yards and six touchdowns overall. The good-looking young back runs with impressive patience and intelligence for his age as he sets up and evades defenders with his good burst and strength through contact.
Bradley Wright (5-9, 160 WR | 2024)
Most eyes entering Catholic games this season focused — rightfully — on record-setting, LSU-committed Shelton Sampson Shelton Sampson 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA Jr. But the Bears’ offense featured a few different playmaking wide receivers to whom quarterback Daniel Beale Daniel Beale 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2024 State LA did a good job of distributing and taking advantage of whatever looks defenses allowed.
The speedy Wright hauled in a deep pass late in the first quarter and dashed off to the 78-yard score to push the early lead to 14-0 and begin his team-leading 87-yard evening. The multisport athlete, with a mix of strong track and field events, finished the season with 372 yards and two touchdowns receiving and 15 kick returns of 286 yards and the program’s first touchdown return since 2015.
Harold Lawson Harold Lawson 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Catholic (Baton Rouge) | 2023 State LA (6-0, 210 LB | 2023)
Holding Edna Karr to a season-low scoring output was a true team effort with a long list of Catholic players executing together to shadow the Cougars’ receivers, get after A.J. Samuel to keep the recently injured senior quarterback uncomfortable and on the move, get off the field on pivotal downs and snatch three takeaways.
Lawson, fellow senior linebacker Bennett Castro and senior defensive end Judd Rouyea were among the consistent leaders in the box to help contain the often-dominant Karr rushing attack and make some plays in the backfield in both the running and passing games. Lawson led the team with 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.
Jonathan Bax Jonathan Bax 6'3" | 235 lbs | LB Edna Karr | 2023 State LA (6-3, 235 LB/DL | 2023)
The senior edge rusher was, simply put, the best player on the football field just about from start to finish. Bax was an absolute menace blowing past or through blockers for seemingly nonstop pressure on Beale to allow the talented junior quarterback to complete just nine of his 27 passes.
The TCU commitment finished with 19 sacks, 24 hurries and 17 tackles for loss in one of the state’s most highly regarded Class 5A districts, as well as 16 pass deflections, five forced fumbles and an interception.
Michael Richard Michael Richard 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Edna Karr | 2023 State LA (5-11, 165 DB | 2023)
The Louisiana Tech commitment was the big playmaker in the Karr secondary with a pair of interceptions, including the one early in the fourth-quarter to set up his team’s go-ahead touchdown. Richard was a leader for the Cougars throughout his career and particularly a senior campaign in which he showcased a consistent knack for making plays on the ball whether in pass coverage or crashing down toward or behind the line of scrimmage. He finished the season with 47 tackles, including 16 for loss and eight sacks, as well as four interceptions, 15 breakups and five blocked punts.
Deantre Jackson (5-8, 175 RB | 2023)
The Southeastern Louisiana commitment overcame a slow start to pair with fellow senior Chris “Bull” Vasquez to finally provide some offensive spark. Jackson racked up a game-high 130 yards and the go-ahead 23-yard touchdown gash to the end zone to finish the season with 1,345 yards and 16 touchdowns on 85 carries, plus another 231 yards and two scores on 23 catches.
Vasquez added 42 yards and their team’s first two touchdowns with his physical, violent rushing style.