35: The length of Edna Karr's winning streak before St. Augustine's 52-14 win
The Cougars face a four-day turnaround to play Jesuit after surrendering three interceptions in a state semifinal loss.
By Jack Weber ·
Edna Karr coach Brice Brown told his players immediately after Saturday's loss that the next opponent, Jesuit, mattered more than the scoreboard. The Cougars lost 52-14 to St. Augustine at Tad Gormley Stadium, ending a 35-game winning streak that had spanned nearly three years.
The loss marks a new experience for the current roster. Many players on the field had never lost a high school football game before this season. The team's previous setback occurred in 2023, when fifth-seeded Karr fell to eighth-seeded Acadiana in the state semifinals. That defeat preceded two undefeated seasons, including last year's decisive victory over St. Augustine in the title game.
The recent run of wins included several dramatic finishes. Against Ruston, junior quarterback Marlon Jones led a fourth-quarter drive, and senior running back Jermond Macklin scored the winning touchdown. In a game against Brother Martin, junior defensive back Ty Williams returned an interception 85 yards for the go-ahead score. Against John Curtis, sophomore defensive tackle Edward Dailey forced a safety, and Juan Jasmin returned an interception for a touchdown after senior defensive end Dalgen Massey batted the pass. A win over Rummel came after senior linebacker Ronell Kindell recovered a fumble for a touchdown and Glenn Gurley ran a 26-yard fake punt.
St. Augustine capitalized on Karr's errors in Saturday's contest. The Saints recovered three consecutive interceptions from the Cougars, returning one for a touchdown. Karr also failed to field a kickoff that bounced near the sideline until St. Augustine recovered it at the 6-yard line. St. Augustine scored a touchdown two plays later. Brown noted that the loss resulted from a combination of Karr's turnovers and St. Augustine's execution. He credited St. Augustine head coach Valdez and his staff for the effort displayed on the field.
Roster turnover played a role in the team's current standing. Karr began the season without 25 players who signed to play in college after last season. Brown stated that the end of the streak was a matter of timing rather than certainty. He described the season as a lesson in responding to adversity.
The Cougars face Jesuit on Thursday. Jesuit defeated Rummel on Friday in a late-game comeback. Karr has played in the Catholic League as a Class 5A school for five seasons. During that time, the team holds a 55-4 record on the field, excluding three forfeited losses, and is 30-2 in district games.
Karr has not lost two regular-season games in the same year since 2019. The team has not lost successive games since a 0-3 start in 2015, a season that ended with a trip to the Class 4A state finals. This group of players now has the opportunity to demonstrate their response to a defeat for the first time.
