Top Performers: Edna Karr vs. John Curtis
New Orleans powerhouses Edna Karr and John Curtis traded lead three times in the final Saturday to live up to the anticipation of one of Louisiana’s top early-season matchups. And, in the end, sophomore quarterback A.J. Samuel and star receivers…
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Continue ReadingNew Orleans powerhouses Edna Karr and John Curtis traded lead three times in the final Saturday to live up to the anticipation of one of Louisiana’s top early-season matchups.
And, in the end, sophomore quarterback A.J. Samuel and star receivers Aaron Anderson and Destyn Hill Destyn Hill 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Edna Karr | 2021 State LA ’s highlight-reel connections lifted the Cougars, winners of the past Class 4A state championships, over the Patriots.
2021 Recruiting Class
Destyn Hill Destyn Hill 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 6-1, 179 WR — Edna Karr
The highly sought-after senior once again led the Cougars’ talented receiving corps with eight catches for 90 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, including the game-winning touchdown in the final minute. On a team with its share of weapons, Hill remains the clear leader of the pack.
DESTYN HILL THIS TIME.
AJ Samuel (@AJSamuel15) with another shot to the end zone… This time the senior @yvngfat13 is there.
Wow. pic.twitter.com/L5pIgZThG8
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 18, 2020
Karl Odrick Jr. Karl Odrick Jr. 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 6-4, 225 LB — Edna Karr
and Cahn Meads Cahn Meads 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Edna Karr | 2021 State LA — 6-3, 235 LB — Edna Karr
The sophomore linebacker, Johnathon Bax, excelled as much as maybe anyone in Karr’s defensive front seven the previous week against Catholic. This time around, a handful of upperclassmen topped that list as the Cougars continue to develop into an increasingly scary unit and team. The seniors, a Ball State commitment and Texas Southern commitment, respectively, played major roles on the edges against the Patriots’ veer-option attack, including teaming up on a game-sealing sack on which Meads successfully held contain on the perimeter and Odrick wrapped up the tackle to close out the victory. Odrick also forced an earlier fumble among his highlights.
Fourth down for Curtis… Edna Karr sack wraps it up.
48 with pressure. 45 with the sack. pic.twitter.com/G087aIXfIz
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 18, 2020
Caleb Spann Caleb Spann 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB John Curtis | 2021 State LA — 5-10, 180 ATH — John Curtis
The Central Michigan commit played all over the secondary, as well as multiple linebacker spots, running back, wide receiver and special teams and made his impact in every one of his roles. A few of his biggest plays included a 37-yard catch down the sideline, an immediate and sure tackle to keep Hill inbounds in the final seconds of the first half and a 30-yard kickoff return in the game’s final minutes that was one last trip-up away from hitting the open field for a potential score.
Buddy Taylor (@lah_buddy) flashing the arm now.
The Central Michigan commit Caleb Spann Caleb Spann 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB John Curtis | 2021 State LA (@c_s_1_1) with the catch. pic.twitter.com/PRaT2jE8og
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 18, 2020
Qahir Harris — 5-10, DE — John Curtis
and Cole Landry — 5-11, 180 DE — John Curtis
and Kylin White — 5-11, 218 LB — John Curtis
This trio around the more heavily recruited defensive tackle Elinus Noel III Elinus Noel III 6'2" | 315 lbs | DL John Curtis | 2021 State LA at the center of the defense were all over the box and into the backfield. White, who holds offers from Louisiana College, Carthage (Wisconsin) and Concordia (Minnesota), showed Saturday why he is among the state’s leading tackles this season. And when Curtis was able to get behind the line of scrimmage, Harris and Landry were typically the culprits.
2022 Recruiting Class
Aaron Anderson — 5-10, 180 WR — Edna Karr
The electric junior has been well-known around the New Orleans high school football scene since at least his sophomore season, if not his freshman year. And, once again, he impressed with his quickness in space with the ball in his hands as both a receiver and a returner. But, this time out, Anderson left people talking most — and calling for NFL Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss — about his leaping go-ahead touchdown in the back corner of the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
AARON ANDERSON IN THE CORNER OF THE END ZONE.
AJ Samuel puts it there, and the junior goes and gets it.
Edna Karr leads, 27-26.
Conversion attempt coming.
3:32 left. pic.twitter.com/ZIvTid1KDH
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 18, 2020
Tory Morgan — 5-11, 194 LB — Edna Karr
and Skylon Jean-Louis — 5-11, 191 LB — Edna Karr
Like the senior duo of Odrick and Meads, the Cougars’ junior linebackers made one play after another all evening. Morgan and Jean-Louis haven’t garnered the college attention of their taller teammates, but have a knack for always being around the ball and involved in the stop. And Jean-Louis was quick to hop on the loose ball on Odrick’s forced fumble.
Tygee Hill — 6-3, 265 DL — Edna Karr
The headline prospect in the center of Karr’s defense spent most of his night plugging the gaps to slow the Patrias’ traditional rushing attack, but also showed his quickness getting out to the perimeter to sniff out screens.
Buddy Taylor — 5-11, 153 QB — John Curtis
Following long-time starter Collin Guggenheim’s graduation was going to be a tall task for whoever next took the reins of the Curtis offense. Buddy Taylor has excelled in his first few weeks, though, and garnered some praise as being among Louisiana’s top 2022 prospects at the position. On Saturday, he rushed 22 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns of 63, 49 and 1 yards and completed 10 of his 13 passes for 125 yards against arguably Louisiana’s best defense.
2022 QB Buddy Taylor (@lah_buddy).
Again. GONE.
Curtis ties the game, 14-14, with 1:25 left in the first. pic.twitter.com/mdmj21qUPa
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) October 18, 2020
Connor Orgeron — 6-1, 215 ATH — John Curtis
Another of the Patriots’ top juniors played made tackles all over the field from his linebacker position on defense, chasing Karr quarterback A.J. Samuel out of the backfield, supplying a couple of the night’s biggest hits and moving well dropping back in coverage. He also caught two of Taylor’s passes as a tight end on the other side of the ball.
2023 Recruiting Class
A.J. Samuel — 5-11, 160 QB — Edna Karr
The sophomore quarterback continued doing his part against Louisiana’s top competition Saturday. Samuel remained poised against the Curtis defense and completed 14 of 21 passes to his veteran weapons for 185 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of go-ahead dimes in the final minutes to Anderson and Hill, and rushed 15 times for another 115 yards and a soaring, stretching fourth-quarter score on which he evaded a fourth-down blitz and found another lane and the end zone.