Our week 8 matchup of GameTime on Yurview Louisiana is a Catholic League matchup between the Edna Karr Cougars and the Holy Cross Tigers.
Karr dominated the Class 4A level, playing in the state championship in 10 of the last 12 years. They won the 4A title four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019.
So, during the redistricting process last year, Karr made the decision to move up to the state’s highest classification and play in its toughest district, the Catholic League.
And the Cougars continue to dominate. The official record is 3-3, but they had to forfeit their first three games because of a dispute over a player’s transcript.
The results on the field have Karr winning in lopsided fashion, including their first two Catholic League contests, in which they won by a combined score of 89-14 over Brother Martin and St. Augustine. Last week they defeated Jesuit 33-17.
Game highlights vs Jesuit High School pic.twitter.com/pzgy7XCJS8
— AJ Samuel 🖖🏾🛸 (@AJSamuel15) October 16, 2022
AJ Samuel leads the team. The three-year starter at quarterback has thrown for 1,229 yards and 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Coach Brice Brown says Samuel can process the game well, makes the right checks at the line and he’s also a physical quarterback.
The Cougars’ top running back is Deantre Jackson, who is starting to blow up on the recruiting scene as he’s a home run threat. Expect to see him get a lot of runs on the outside as he’s rushed for 785 yards and nine touchdowns.
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/XHQnzCc4n3
— Deantre”The Jet”Jackson (@Deejacksonjr) October 17, 2022
Chris Vasquez is a co-captain, with 4.5 speed, who gets the tough runs inside.
Karr also has two excellent receivers in Kylen Lampton and Makhi Paris. Lampton is a three-year starter, who they like to move around. He’s a guy that can take the top off the defense. Paris a transfer from De Le Salle has made a lot of clutch catches.
The offensive line is led by Brandon Spencer, who is highly recruited.
On defense, defensive end Jonathan Bax, a three-star recruit, is an intense player, with four sacks and 18 tackles for a loss. Bax is expected to graduate in December and head to TCU.
The defense also features two other three-star recruits, Safety Michael Richard and cornerback Ryan Robinson. Richard is committed to Louisiana Tech and has 43 tackles. He wears the jersey number five in honor of Tonka George, a former Karr player who was fatally shot in 2016. Robinson has the likes of Florida State and Nebraska interested him.
Levi Darenensburg has come on strong with three interceptions.
Edna Karr looks like they will be one of the teams to beat in the Division 1 select playoffs.
Holy Cross is hoping to be one of the 24 teams in the Division 1 select playoffs, but the Tigers are a banged-up football team.
Coach Nick Saltaformaggio has been coaching for 42 years and he’s seen nothing like it. They’ve lost nine players to injury who needed surgery. That includes two starting offensive linemen, their top two running backs, starting safety, starting outside linebacker, speedy wideout Krosse Johnson, and then last week starting quarterback Cole Cantella went down with a collarbone injury.
But Holy Cross still has some talented players on the field. Defensive linemen Ian Tate and Lance Williams do a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage. Williams is a commitment of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.
— Koby “K2” Young (@K2lethal_) October 3, 2022
On offense, Koby Young is a dynamic player, who has interest from Alabama and LSU and he’s a junior.
Saltaformaggio says despite the tough season, he says Holy Cross can still make the playoffs if they win two of their last three games.
Can they pull off the upset?
Find out on Friday night at 7 PM on YurView Louisiana (Cox channel 4).
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