The final score doesn’t count; it won’t affect the standings, nor any district or state championships.
Nonetheless, when Destrehan and Karr get together for what’s become an annual spring game tradition, it feels very much like an event.
“This is the best spring game in Louisiana,” said Destrehan quarterback Jackson Fields, who entered last week’s spring scrimmage for the third time as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback.
It’s tough to argue against it when the field is full of big-time recruits, the stands filled with fans and the sidelines with college coaches, recruiters and alumni from both teams.
This time, the spring game pitted a defending state champion in Karr against a state semifinalist in Destrehan. Karr got the better of the host Wildcats on the unofficial scoreboard, with seven touchdowns to three across combined first and second team action.
But most importantly, said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott, both teams get better from sharpening their skills against another top opponent, and that fact keeps bringing these two teams together for the spring.
“I was happy with the work … I think it’s always a good thing to test yourself,” Scott said. “We tell the kids all the time, some people go through life and they never test themselves, they never push themselves to the limit. And that’s what we try to do, both in our preseason schedule and pre-district schedule.
“We’re not going to see many people like that. It’s always good for us to go against this type of speed, athleticism and aggression. We take some licks but we’re able to give some licks as well, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The stars of the day on the Destrehan side were Fields and wide receiver Jabari Mack, both of whom showed why they’re getting attention at the Division I level. Mack, an LSU commitment who will be a senior this fall, hauled in two touchdowns from Fields on the night.
One of those saw Fields improvise and extend a play with his legs, ultimately sprinting right and giving Mack enough time to get behind the defense – the ball went up, Mack pulled it in and was off to the races.
Scott noted Mack was coming off of just three days of spring practice – he joined at the tail end following track and field season, where he had just competed at the state championship meet. But Fields and Mack have a strong connection built over the oast two seasons, and that play was a great example of it.
“We work hard together, whether it’s on the weekends during the season or every day during the summer. We just have that kind of connection where we can make a play out of anything,” Fields said. “Jabari has a great work ethic. Even though he was at track, he was checking in with coach every day, at practices … really just giving his all to the team.”
Mack had equal praise for his quarterback.
“From any other person’s point of view, it might just be a blown up play. But my quarterback, Jackson Fields, he’s always gonna try to keep the play going,” said Mack. “I know he’s not gonna stop and he knows I’m not gonna stop. So when he threw it up, I just made a play. We’ve been friends since middle school and teammates since middle school, so we’ve built that bond together.”
Fields added that the annual reps against a team the caliber of Karr in the spring has helped in his development.
“Karr pretty much has an SEC defensive line, every year since I’ve been playing. You’re starting off with such a tough opponent in the spring, it definitely prepares you for not just the regular season, but the playoffs,” Fields said.
Au’shai Smith, who got valuable playing time as a freshman last season at quarterback when Fields was sidelined with injury, showed off a bit of his progression last week in the scrimmage. His long touchdown pass to Dominic Townsend highlighted the second team’s work during the spring game.
The Cougars, meanwhile, showed that there’s plenty of talent still in the cupboard for the defending Division I select state champion. Quarterback John Johnson showed off his strong arm early when he heaved a long bomb to Anthony Thomas that went for a touchdown.
Another long connection from Thomas went to running back Jermond Macklin, who got down to the Wildcats’ goal line before Tre Garrison punched in a rushing touchdown.
That was one of three touchdowns for Garrison on a day he and Macklin provided several explosive plays. Macklin scored twice in the scrimmage.
