Karr quietly getting it done again

The best programs at any level seldom rebuild, they simply reload.

Many observers looked at perennial power Karr and felt that while they were not quite rebuilding, they had a lot of reloading to do in 2017.

The result was a perceived lack of response from voters in the Louisiana Sportswriters statewide rankings weekly.

Throughout the course of the season, Karr has never been atop the rankings and until very recently, the Cougars were seventh, even eighth in those rankings. That is not the case in our CrescentCitySports.com Class 4A rankings, where Karr is the top-ranked team, the best until proven otherwise.

For a program that has appeared in six of the last seven Class 4A state championship games and won two state titles and is the defending champion, it is a bit perplexing to see the sportswriters rankings, particularly when the Cougars still have very good players and are very well coached in 2017.

It is not that rankings matter to Cougars head coach Brice Brown, mind you. Speaking on The Three Tailgaters Show on WGSO, 990 AM Saturday morning, Brown expressed contentment with his team flying a bit below radar.

“We don’t put too much stock into it,” Brown said. “A lot of people have their own opinion. During our championships runs, we were ranked as low as 10. Every team has their own fuel to get ready in a different way. This team doesn’t read the press clippings. We get the opposing team’s best effort every Friday night. We just worry about taking care of our own business, about remaining focused.”

The Cougars improved to 7-1 and 2-0 in District 9-4A with a methodical 33-6 win over McMain Friday night at Behrman Stadium.

Karr led 33-0 at the half and substituted freely in the second half.

Lonte Nettles rushed for a pair of touchdowns while Ahman Antoine and Skylar Perry each ran for a score for the Cougars. Perry also passed for a touchdown to Jahaii Howard. Duntrell Quinn ran for a score and passed for 98 yards for the Mustangs (1-6, 0-3).

Karr’s only loss of the season came at the hands of 3A top-ranked De La Salle 28-26 in a game that the Cougars trailed 21-0 before roaring back but failing on a two-point conversion attempt late in the game. Karr passed its other tests with flying colors, downing defending 5A state champion Landry-Walker, highly regarded 4A power McDonogh 35 and a solid 5A team in St. Paul’s.

“It’s really been a contrast from what we have been,” Brown said. “We’ve never run it this much at Karr. It’s not a bad thing. We’ve got to do what our personnel tells us to do. We have a good offensive line and great running backs. We want to put our guys in the best position to succeed.”

Karr has won five straight games and the Cougars will host Helen Cox Friday night at Behrman Stadium before facing a showdown with Warren Easton on Thursday night, Nov. 2 in a battle between arguably the top two teams in the state in Class 4A. Regardless of the opponent, Karr will focus on the immediate task at hand.

“Whether we play on Thursday or Friday, we prepare the same way,” Brown said. “Consistency is the key, what we strive for. If you are one of the elite teams in the area, you are in the office, watching video, grinding. Knowing that a pat on the back is six inches from a kick in the butt is important. You have to believe in the process of your particular program.”

The business-like approach works very well for the mature players and coaches at Karr.

“Helen Cox is an improved team,” Brown said. “They will be ready to play. The season doesn’t begin or end with playing Warren Easton. To win a district championship, we have to beat Helen Cox. If we do so, then we can focus on Warren Easton.”

While others are sleeping on Karr, the Cougars have our attention and are wide awake, which could be bad news for opponents the rest of the way in 2017.