Southern Lab and University High preview

Our first of two GameTime matchups on YurView Louisiana this week features two of the best teams in Baton Rouge, as Southern Lab travels to the LSU campus to face the University High Cubs.

This game features well over a dozen high major FBS prospects.

The Kittens feature two LSU commitments, running back Tyrion Davis and offensive lineman Kardell Thomas.

Thomas is considered one of the top prospects in the country regardless of position. Rivals has him rated #11 in their Rivals150 rankings.

Known as “Mr. Pancake”, you may have already seen Kardell on social media anchoring the 4×100 (at 356 pounds), playing a little wide receiver,  squatting over 600 pounds, or ready to mix it up with some of the country’s best defensive linemen at The Opening.

With Thomas paving the way Davis, a 6-2, 228-pound back with 4.45 speed), rushed for 1,965 yards and 27 touchdowns in nine games as a junior. The #1 rated RB in Louisiana had only a handful of offers a year ago but is committed to LSU where it looks like he’ll compete for playing time, if not a starting job, right away.


The U-High defense just can’t focus on Davis. Davis’s running mate in the backfield is Charvis Thornton, a slasher with matching 4.45 speed. Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Memphis are just some of the schools recruiting Thornton, who also plays receiver and free safety.

The dynamic duo rushed for 360 yards in Southern Lab’s season opening victory over Riverside. Thornton had 190 yards on the ground, while Davis rushed for 170 yards in the 36-13 win over Riverside.

The Southern Lab offense also features an SEC-quality wide receiver in Reginald Johnson, who can really stretch the defense. Just a junior, Johnson possesses size (6’2, 180) great speed and runs crisp routes. He already has offers from programs like Louisiana Tech and Tennessee but his recruitment may be just heating up with LSU and other SEC programs monitoring his progress.

The Kittens will likely play two quarterbacks against the Cubs-Travon Myles, who has 4.5 speed plus a good arm. Southern Lab Coach Daryl Asberry is also very high on freshman Angelo Izzard, who also throws the football well to go along with the ability to run. Asberry says Izzard is very football smart for his age.

The defense features linebacker Tyler Guidry, who is committed to UL-Lafayette. Guidry is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and makes a lot of tackles along the line of scrimmage.


The Kittens defense features two other three-star prospects, defensive back Kendarias Moses and defensive end Christopher Welch.

Southern Lab’s defense will have a tough time slowing down the U-High offense, which won easily over Mandeville in its season’s opener, 46-17.

19 starters are back from last year’s championship team, which beat undefeated De La Salle 45-19 in the Division Two state championship.

Quarterback John Gordon McKernan is one of those returning starters. He tossed two touchdown passes in the state title game, and again has plenty of weapons.

Running back Mike Hollins has over 3,000 yards rushing and 60 touchdowns in his career.

Wide receiver Christian Harris is a four-star prospect, ranked as the 8th best player in the state by 247sports.com. He’s one of the fastest players on the team. A dangerous return man, and he’ll also play cornerback. Next season he’ll be heading to College Station, Texas to suit up for Texas A&M.


Makiya Tongue is another highly touted prospect that had 32 catches last season. The son of former NFL wide receiver Reggie Tongue, Makiya has committed to Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs.


There’s also Doran Harris who is a three-year starter and has 4.5 speed. You’ll see him on jet sweeps, as he’s excellent with the ball in his hands.

There are big-time college prospects on defense led by Bryton Constantin, who is committed to Clemson. He’s rated by 247sports as the seventh best player in the state after recording over 100 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, six sacks and returned one fumble for a touchdown.


Defensive tackle Donald “Biscuit” Berniard is committed to Navy. Obviously, a smart football player, who gives max effort every play.


And then there’s U-High cornerback Jordan Clark, who is the son of former LSU star and NFL safety Ryan Clark. Jordan Clark is a detail oriented player, who had three interceptions and 11 pass break-ups last season.

U-High won this rivalry game last season by the score of 35-16- but the Kittens are in a much better frame of mind this year. About two weeks before last year’s game against the Cubs, Southern Lab was hit with LHSAA sanctions that resulted in the firing of their head coach, Marcus Randall, and a two-year postseason ban.

The postseason ban was reduced to one-year, so Southern Lab is ready for another trip to the Mercedes Benz Superdome and they can test their championship mettle against arguably the best team in the state, the U-High Cubs.

Kick-off on Friday night is at 7 PM on YurView Louisiana, Channel 1004 or streaming live at yurview.com.

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