High School Football: Edna Karr (La.) beats American Heritage (Fla.) in OT

Heading into Friday night’s contest between nationally ranked Edna Karr and American Heritage, speculation swirled around the latter regarding the availability of Texas commit Dia Bell behind center.

Folks at the Caesars Superdome got the answer as Bell sat out, but that didn’t leave this game for not. The Patriots stayed competitive but it would be the Cougars pulling off a thrilling, 24-17, win in overtime in New Orleans.

Edna Karr’s defense stands tall in overtime session

One of the best defenses in all of the Southeast just needed to make one more stop and they were bringing the city of New Orleans a win over one of the Sunshine State’s top high school football programs.

After the Cougars converted on their offensive possession and were able to score a touchdown, it was the Patriots turn to try and tie the game. Edna Karr’s defense, loaded with Power 4 level talent across the board, made the one last stop they needed in order to win the game.

Faced with one last gasp attempt, American Heritage attempted what looked like a double-reverse pass, which was snuffed out by the Cougars’ defense. On the end around, the Patriots fell five yards short of the goal line, ending the game and sending the Edna Karr bench into jubilation.

No Dia Bell for American Heritage

The five-star Texas commit Dia Bell was seen walking around in his No. 3 jersey on the field pregame, but it was evident the senior signal caller had no plans of playing.

Stepping into his place was Georgia Tech commit Jeffar Jean-Noel behind center. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide receiver was moved to quarterback and for the circumstances, didn’t play bad for American Heritage whatsoever.

Questions now run rampant on how long will Bell be out as no word was given from the Superdome regarding the future Longhorn’s status for next week and beyond. If the Patriots are without Bell for an extended period of time, it looks like a perfect replacement has fallen into their lap via Miami Northwestern transfer Leon Strawder, who was the Bulls’ starting quarterback en route to the Class 3A state championship last fall.

The State of Florida just has not found any success against out of state opponents

It hasn’t been a fun time for high school football teams based in Florida up against anyone from beyond the state lines. Don’t ask this sports reporter, just take a look at the cold, hard statistics.

After Saturday’s results, the Sunshine State now sits 15-34 against out-of-state opponents, with American Heritage’s loss factoring in and adding another loss to the column. When it comes to facing other state’s top ranked clubs, Florida hasn’t faired well at all.

With most of the out-of-state games now mostly out of the way, the state can focus more on the regular season matchups that feature in-state matchups.

How to Follow National High School Football

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.