Karr Cougars defeat Alexandria to win first state championship since 2019

The Karr Cougars did it all, whenever, in their 53-8 victory over the Alexandria Trojans in the Division I Select Championship game. Karr finishes the season 14-0 and captures its first state championship since 2019. The game was all but over in the second snap of the game for the Trojans. ASH quarterback Karsen Sellers floated a ball in the air along the sideline, which was intercepted by Karr’s defensive back Aiden Hall, who returned it 30 yards for the game’s first touchdown. On Karr’s first offensive snap, quarterback John Johnson connected with LSU signee TaRon Francis for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Cougars a 14-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Johnson added another touchdown, running from five yards out to make the score 21-0. Karr’s scoring slowed in the second quarter, but his defense continued to hold tight against the ASH offense. The Cougars defense picked up speed with two safeties in the second quarter leading 25-0. Johnson scored his second rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Karr led 32-8 at halftime. The result could have been much worse, but Johnson threw four interceptions in the first half. Johnson would shake that off in the second half. He threw a 22-yard touchdown to Francis in the fourth quarter, followed by an 18-yard rushing touchdown. Johnson finished the day with 197 passing yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions, as well as 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He was named Most Outstanding Player. Karr defensive tackle Richard Anderson finished the game with six tackles for loss and a sack. The Cougars held ASH to 188 total yards. The Trojans came into the game averaging around 40 points per game. Karr has now won seven state championships in football, five of them under head coach Brice Brown. Brown also won titles in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.