Max Preps Article Karr St Aug Game

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In a battle of blue-chip recruits and two of the country's top teams, Devante "Speedy" Noil's star shone the brightest.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior, who lines up at quarterback for Karr (New Orleans), threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and rushed for another to help Karr, the No. 5 team in the Xcellent 25, overcome a huge night from superstar running back Leonard Fournette to defeat St. Augustine (New Orleans), 33-24.

Trailing 24-14 at half, Edna Karr failed to score in the third quarter, and it appeared as if St. Augustine would hang on for the win.

Halfway through the final period, however, Noil took over.

First, he found sophomore Kenneth Simmons for a 43-yard touchdown with six minutes remaining to breathe some life into Karr, narrowing the gap to 24-20.

A minute later, Juwan Offray nabbed an interception and Karr was at it again. After Noil broke a long run, he followed up with a 3-yard touchdown scramble to give Karr a 27-24 lead with five minutes remaining.

Noil wasn't finished. He hit Simmons again from three yards out to give Edna Karr some insurance, 33-24.

One of the nation's top uncommitted recruits, Noil overshadowed a tremendous performance from Fournette, one of the nation's other most-coveted undecided players.


File photo by Roddy Johnson
Leonard Fournette, St. Augustine
After Noil ripped a 21-yard run to give Karr an early 7-0 lead, Fournette showed why he is perhaps the best high school running back since Palatine (Texas) legend Adrian Peterson.

Fournette took a screen pass from quarterback Toi Jackson to make it 7-6.

Glen Irons returned the ensuing kickoff the distance to give Karr a 14-6 lead, but Fournette struck back as St. Augustine went on a furious run before half.

It started with a 10-yard touchdown run by Fournette to trim Karr's lead to 14-12. A Stanley Morgon touchdown grab gave St. Augustine an 18-12 lead. Showing his versatility, Fournette then threw a 63-yard touchdown to Marlon Watts to give the Purple Knights a 24-14 halftime lead.

The Karr defense clamped down in the second half, and Noil kicked it into another gear, helping Karr to three touchdowns in a five-minute span in the fourth to help extend its winning streak to 16 games.

Karr (2-0) has a bye week next week before a showdown with John Curtis. St. Augustine (1-1) will play Covington on Friday.

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