Karr makes statement with 40-6 win over Easton to take District 9-4A title

NEW ORLEANS – After a first possession three-and-out and a short punt, Warren Easton looked primed to take an early lead over Edna Karr in a showdown for the District 9 4A championship.

From that point forward, the defending state champions showed why they are again the team to beat in the Class 4A playoffs starting next week.

Senior quarterback Skylar Perry ran for 107 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries in Karr’s dominant 42-6 victory over Easton at Tad Gormley Stadium on Thursday night.

The game was broadcast live on Crescent City Sports (watch the replay here).

The victory secured the District 9-4A championship for the Cougars, winners of seven straight overall, in a clear statement game between budding rivals.

After an interception by senior defensive back Chance Carroll on Easton’s first offense of play from scrimmage at the Karr 33 yard line, the Cougars drove 70 yards in nine plays to take the lead.

On fourth-and-goal from the Easton 1-yard line, running back Ronnie Jackson scored to make it 7-0. Jackson had 12 carriers for 54 yards and the score while adding 17 yards receiving on a pair of catches.

The Cougars increase their lead thanks to special teams when Chaz Bates blocked a punt and Bilal Muhammad recovered the loose ball in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. Karr (9-1, 4-0) led 13-0 before the halfway point of the opening quarter following a blocked extra-point try.

Perry continued to thrive managing Karr’s spread attack and setting up another score with a crucial 4th down conversion. His keeper from the 3-yard line punctuated by a dive across the goal line made it 20-0 on the first play of the second quarter.

The rout was on when Perry broke loose down the middle of the field for a 20-yard touchdown run at the 4:20 mark of the half.

Perry was also efficient in the passing game, finishing 9-of-16 for 128 yards. Karr did not turn over the ball in an efficient performance.

“We are not that team that is going to score on one play like last year,” said Karr coach Brice Brown. “We are a grind it team. We are a gritty team. My quarterback played lights out tonight.”

Easton junior quarterback Lance Legendre was pressured consistently by Karr due to a variety of fronts and blitzes, and the Eagles running game was stifled throughout the night.

However, Legendre kept plays alive at times with desperate scrambling including one play to help set up Easton’s lone score of the night. The Eagles were held under 40 yards rushing.

On third-and-15 late in the first half, Legendre bought time and found Damien Tate for a 35-yard gain to put Easton (7-2, 3-1) in the red zone. On another third-down at the Karr 15, Legendre hit Sheldon “Sticks” Jones on a comeback route at the 2-yard line, and the senior receiver committed to UTSA broke a tackle to score put Easton on the board with 51 seconds to go before the break.

Legendre finished 11-of-28 for 148 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Any hopes of a rally by the Eagles were squashed by Karr in the second half. A steady running game and relentless defense made a statement about the desire of the Cougars to the return to the Dome for a chance to repeat.

Another fourth down near the goal line resulted in a Perry 3-yard touchdown run to make it 33-6 in the third quarter. Perry’s 5-yard scoring run in the final quarter was an exclamation point to Karr’s successful trip across the river.

Perry shined bright in a matchup of highly touted quarterbacks, but he did not soak in all the credit.

“It feels good,” said Perry. “But none of it would be possible without my o-line, my receivers and my defense.”

Perry is right. Karr once again has a complete team worthy of the favorite’s tag for another 4A state championship.

SUMMARY

EK 13 14 6 7 — 40

WE 0 6 0 0 — 6

First quarter

EK – Jackson 1 run (Aaron Foster kick), 8:14; 7-0.

EK — Muhammad blocked punt recovery (kick blocked), 6:25; 13-0.

Second quarter

EK — Perry 3 run (Foster kick), 11:55; 20-0.

EK — Perry 20 run (Foster kick), 4:20; 27-0.

WE — Jones 15 pass from Legendre (kick failed), 0:51; 27-6.

Third quarter

EK — Perry 3 run (kick failed), 7:40; 33-6.

Fourth quarter

EK — Perry 5 run (Foster kick), 2:29; 40-6.