Karr faces rematch with Carver

When you see rematch games in the LHSAA prep football playoffs, they typically occur on the select side of the bracket, where there are only 55 teams in the playoffs in four brackets.

Inevitably, there are a few on the non-select side as well.

Such is the case when top-seed and defending Class 4A state champion Karr hosts 16th-seed Carver Friday night at 7 p.m. at Behrman Stadium.

The Cougars (10-1) advanced with an easy 54-13 victory over 32nd-seed Buckeye in the opening round while the Rams face their second straight rematch after beating 17th-seed Bastrop for the second time this season, winning 50-24. The Rams had beaten the visiting Rams 20-12 back in week one of the season.

“It was our best performance of the year for us,” Carver head coach Byron Addison said. “Hurst is playing like we expected him to play all season long. He was able to do everything we wanted him to do, spreading it around to the open man and he ran it well. We will only go as far as he will take us.”

The Rams (7-3) are led by quarterback Izea Hurst. Senior Jimmie Cooley is the top rusher while sophomore Randolph Armstead has been solid as well. Freshman Lynaris Elpheage, Jr. is the leading receiver while Senior Keyon Clark has 11 touchdown catches. Junior Bryson Lewis is a very good pass rusher.

Back on Sept. 22, Karr handled Carver 35-6 at Joe Brown Stadium. Carver has won three straight games and the Rams are playing with confidence.

“The kids believe they can win,” Addison said. “They’ve been focused all week, more focused than we have seen them in a long time. They feel like they have a chance to go do something special. We are looking forward to the opportunity.”

Still, Addison knows what he and his team is up against.

“It’s Karr and they are the state champions,” Addison said. “We cannot make as many mistakes. We have to play an almost perfect football game to have a chance to win. It starts with doing the small things right. They are just a disciplined team that runs it more than they did in the past. They had a great quarterback last year but they are running it even more this year. You have to stand up to their running game. We have to tackle well and play smart offensively.”

The Cougars are on a roll, having won eight straight games.

Ronnie Jackson and Ahmad Antoine provide an excellent one-two punch at the running back position while Skylar Perry has been solid running and throwing the football. Anthony Spurlock and Khalfani Simmons are top receivers.

“I think our concentration level was good last week,” Karr coach Brice Brown said. “We were focused and did not overlook Bastrop. Now, we face a much tougher test in Carver. They are a much better team than we faced earlier this year.”

Brown feels his team is facing one of the best players they have faced this season.

“Hurst is a guy that we have to contain,” Brown said. “Everything starts with him. He can throw on the run, manipulate the pocket and make plays with his arm and his legs. We have tried to simulate him by using someone to scramble all week long. It is tough preparation. We know this will not be an easy one at all.”

While they won the first matchup by a solid margin, Brown did not el it came easily.

“The last time we faced Carver it was 7-6 at halftime,” Brown said. “We did not play very well and they are good. It is hard to beat a team twice. They look like a hungry team playing with purpose. They looked really good against Bastrop. It is truly one game at a time to get to our goal and this is a tough one.”