Karr opens quest for five by continuing mastery of Easton

 
It is a new season but it is the same old, same old.

Warren Easton is an outstanding team and will contend for the Class 4A state championship.

Karr is the best team, the king of the hill, and is the best team in 4A until someone proves otherwise by toppling the Cougars from their lofty perch.

Karr opened its quest for a fifth consecutive state title with a convincing 45-20 win over Warren Easton Saturday night at Hoss Memtsas Stadium in the first annual Don Wattigny Classic in honor of the late former Karr coach Don Wattigny, who started the varsity football program at Karr and coached many coaches on the staffs of both teams, including Brice Brown of Karr and Jerry Phillips of Warren Easton.

The victory was the eighth straight for the Cougars over the Eagles, including a pair of state championship contests.

With an experienced team, Karr appears to be better than its squad which edged Easton in the state championship game a year ago.

The litany of excellent quarterbacks at Karr is bordering on ridiculous.

The Cougars graduate an excellent quarterback, they simply come up with another.

The names are synonymous with success.

From Patrick Surtain to Munchie Legeaux to Tonka George to Alden Clark to Speedy Noil to Skylar Perry, the list of Karr stars at quarterback is long.

Last year, it was Leonard Kelly leading the Cougars to a state title.

With Kelly now at Nicholls, it was time for the next man up.

This year, it is Anterrious ‘A.J.’ Samuels.

After suffering an early interception, Samuels settled in and completed 15-of-21 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns.

“We put a lot into the quarterback position with preparation.,” Karr coach Brice Brown said. “He did a good job with executing the game plan. He had to make some audibles and checks and he did that well for the most part. We’ll settle him down a little bit.”

Yarun McMath, the younger brother of former Karr star and current LSU starting wide receiver Racey McMath, caught a touchdown pass of 41 yards. Khamani Simmons hauled in a 41-yard touchdown catch from Samuels.

Top prospect Devyn Pazon caught a 5-yard touchdown pass while Dany’e Brooks took in a 47-yard touchdown reception.

“We return all of our wideouts and they played a big part,” Brown said. “It’s helping A.J. out in running the offense. That is a strength and those are our playmakers.”

Christopher Vasquz had a 39-yard touchdown run, Jordan Marigny added a rushing touchdown while Jonathan Bax returned an Easton fumble for a score for Karr.

“The defense, especially in the first half through the third quarter played lights out,” Brown said. “We stopped the run well and stopped their big play ability. We’re going to build up. We played with some young guys in the secondary in their first varsity game. We were pleased with the defense and how they played.”

First-year starter Keddrick Connelly tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Alfred Luke while Jay Gordon ran for a score for the Eagles.

Karr never trailed, jumping out to a 13-0 lead. The closest Easton got was at 13-7 before Karr led 19-7 at the half. The Cougars exploded for 20 unanswered points in the third quarter take an insurmountable 39-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

“It was great to honor Coach Wattigny and to see all of his kids and family out there,” Brown said. “I’m glad they are keeping his name alive with this game. Coach Wattigny was a great man. It’s a great tradition to keep alive.”

Karr returns to action on a very short week this Thursday, traveling to powerful Catholic of Baton Rouge for a 7 p.m. contest at Memorial Stadium. Warren Easton will host a good East Ascension Friday at 7 p.m. at Pan American Stadium.

Catholic handled Karr 47-12 a year ago.

“Having Catholic on a short week is not going to be easy,” Brown said. “It is going to be tough. We have the players and depth to do it so we just have to use it. They beat us good last year.”

Louisiana Prep Scoreboard for Saturday, Oct. 3

Archbishop Shaw 28, West Jefferson 7

Ascension Episcopal 48, North Vermilion 13

Green Oaks 43, B.T. Washington (SH) 22

Karr 45, Warren Easton 20

J.F. Kennedy 28, Independence 20

Mandeville 48, Archbishop Hannan 21

Riverside Academy 49, Caldwell Parish 19