The magical season for the Carencro Golden Bears ended with their first state championship since 1992, winning 35-19 over Class 4A stalwart Edna Karr thanks to a healthy balance of run and pass as well as a big game from Popcorn Prejean.
How It Happened:
The Cougars established the passing game to open the contest with a 50-yard pass from Anterious Samuel to Aaron Anderson to get into the redzone. However, the Bears defense was able to get a big stop with Jaylen Johnson picking off Samuel a few plays later.
Tavion Faulk wasted little time getting Carencro into enemy territory, finding Cody Joseph on a nice pass, but they couldn’t cash in after a botched snap on fourth down snuffed out any momentum that the offense had after the early INT. It remained scoreless until about midway through the second quarter with a lengthy drive that ended with Prejean pushing his way into the endzone to go up 7-0.
Edna Karr wasted very little time to tie things up with Samuel finding Anderson on the deep ball for a 35-yard touchdown. The Cougars took control of the ballgame just before halftime with another TD pass to Anderson, going up 14-13 after a blocked extra point.
The Golden Bears came out of the second half strong and pulled off a trick play with Prejean connecting with Johnson on a 46-yard touchdown to take a 14-13 lead. After Carencro’s defense forced a punt, Faulk finds the tight end Ryan Perry to take a 22-13 lead with 6:33 left in the third.
The Cougars responded with Anderson getting his third touchdown of the night, this time the LSU commit got it done on the ground with a 17-yard run. However, Edna Karr only got within three-points after a failed two-point conversion. Carencro’s run game for much of the contest was kept in check, but Louisiana Ragin Cajuns commit Kendrell Williams got his first score of the night with a 40-yard run down the field to go up 28-19 with 12 seconds left before the final frame.
Prejean sealed the deal for the Golden Bears with a big touchdown run to go up 35-19 with about two minutes left in the contest.
Player of the Game: Popcorn Prejean
The senior running for Carencro was the football equivalent of Paul Revere, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for one as well. Prejean was named the Most Outstanding Player for a reason and he showed just how good he is.