Louisiana vs. All Y’all: Jerit’s Takes from the Road
Edna Karr vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge) headlined Louisiana’s high school semifinal slate this weekend and, from both the battle on the field and the electric atmosphere in Algiers, did not disappoint.
The Cougars took control in the third quarter with big plays in all three phases and held off the Bears’ late comeback push to win, 21-19, and punch their first title-game ticket since 2020.
A trio of talented, LSU-bound prospects were among the top performers for each squad and among the notable standouts all over the state.
Edna Karr’s 2026 LSU duo shines
The Cougars are the state’s most talented team top to bottom, and a pair of 2026 LSU commits helped lead a stout defensive effort in the heavyweight slug fest.
Defensive tackle Richard Anderson showed his impressive explosiveness and quickness at his size on a few plays on which he still burst past the double teams he faced the bulk of the night and generated interior pressure.
But, whether he got upfield on a given play or not, he consistently helped force the Catholic (Baton Rouge) running game wide where Edna Karr’s other playmakers wrapped up stops and kept the Bears largely in check.
Anderson’s junior classmate Aiden Hall was truly sideline to sideline as a standout in a physical performance overall by the team’s secondary.
The rangy safety appeared multiple places at once at times with the anticipation and speed with which he closed passing windows and closed on ball-carriers.
LSU signee helps highlight Catholic (BR)
Edna Karr’s passing game still had its moments, but wasn’t as efficient as it has been much of the season.
The Catholic (Baton Rouge) secondary deserves credit for its hand in that, in particular new LSU signee Jacob Bradford who managed to get his hand on at least two or three passed downfield in addition to playing with his and his brother Blaine’s trademark fast and explosively physical style.
Success the Cougars did have pushing the ball field came on strikes away from the Bradfords.
JT Lindsey, Alexandria rolling to Dome
Edna Karr will now face No. 2 Alexandria (13-0) in the Caesars Superdome in a Division-I Select title bout between the state’s top two teams.
The Trojans beat John Curtis, 24-13, to advance to their program’s second state championship game.
LSU signee J.T. Lindsey once again led the way with a season-high 41 carries for 247 yards and two of the team’s three touchdowns.
The four-star prospect’s sixth 200-yard game pushed his senior totals to 2,361 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Career TD record reset once again
For the second straight year, a Lafayette area dual-threat quarterback has toppled the state’s career touchdown record.
Vermilion Catholic star Jonathan “Jon-Jon” Dartez rushed for four scores and passed for another in a 33-0 shutout of Kentwood to push the No. 1 Screaming Eagles (13-0) back to their second Division-IV Select title game in three years.
His combined career total now sits at 173, moving past LSU freshman Ju’Juan Johnson out of Lafayette Christian atop Louisiana’s record book.
Xavier Ford takes down season rushing record
Leesville’s run through the Division-II Select bracket came to an end Friday, as the No. 7 Wampus Cats (10-3) fell to No. 3 E.D. White (11-2).
But, even against the Cardinals’ always-stout defense, senior running back Xavier Ford reportedly ground out enough yardage to overtake former Oberlin standout Cedric Skinner’s single-season rushing record of 3,437 yards.
Official statistics have not been confirmed, but postgame reports from the American Press and Lafourche Gazette both placed the nephew of former LSU back Michael Ford past Skinner’s mark.
Diesel, Dogs keep rolling
Cecilia (11-3) continued its “Road Dogs” run back to the Caesars Superdome with a fourth straight win as a lower seed, the No. 18 in the Division-II Non-Select bracket.
And the Bulldogs’ versatile, dynamic senior quarterback and all-around athlete appears to only be gaining steam each round as the ring leader of the team’s high-flying offense.
Tallying newspaper reports from his four games, Diesel Solari has now completed 44 of 69 passes (58%) for 684 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed 55 times for 467 yards and eight scores.
The 5-foot-7, 175-pound standout is among Louisiana’s under-recruited seniors still looking for a college opportunity, a player clearly capable of making an impact at the next level in the right role.
The post Louisiana vs. All Y’all: Jerit’s Takes from the Road appeared first on On3.
