The Jesuit soccer team, which closed the year as high as No. 2 in the nation, was selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Outstanding Boys Prep Team for 2025-26.
The Blue Jays captured their 14th state championship when they took down rival Brother Martin, 2-1, in the LHSAA Division I title match behind two goals from junior Casey Parker-Karst. Trailing 1-0 at the half, Parker-Karst drilled the game-tying goal early in the second half and less than five minutes later, the striker dribbled right and curved another shot inside the far post, giving his team its first lead.
“We talked a little bit at halftime about just having the belief and don’t play with anxiety or frustration even though we’re losing,” Jesuit coach Hubie Collins said. “We know that we’re a quality side and a quality team and Casey and the rest of the boys took that to heart and it was just a boost to the adrenaline when Casey hit that volley and smashed it into the back of the net.”
The victory capped an undefeated season for the Blue Jays (21-0-1). They closed the regular season and earned the top seed in the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Brother Martin on Feb. 2. Then they cruised to three shutout victories (6-0 over Sulphur, 6-0 over Dutchtown, 8-0 over East Ascension) to reach the semifinals where Parker-Karst scored two goals and added an assist in a 5-2 win over Baton Rouge to set up the rematch with the Crusaders.
Jesuit was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the final rankings for winter soccer programs from the United Soccer Coaches. The Blue Jays were No. 2 in MaxPreps winter program rankings.
Jesuit was also selected as the Boys Prep Team of the Year in the Sugar Bowl’s fan vote for the annual awards.
Joining Jesuit as finalists for the top boys prep team honor were Country Day Basketball, Edna Karr Football, and Holy Cross Wrestling. Country Day used a wide-array of talent to wrap up its second straight LHSAA Division III Select state championship with a 58-49 victory over top-seeded Calvary Baptist. Karr, playing in the highest classification and in one of the state’s toughest districts, defeated 12 of 14 opponents by double figures (average margin of victory 30.9 points) to claim the Division I Select state championship while extending its winning streak to 27 games. Holy Cross won all four of its individual title matches to upend three-time defending state champ Jesuit to claim the Division I LHSAA wrestling state championship.
The New Orleans Sports Awards Committee came together when James Collins spearheaded a group of sports journalists to form a sports awards committee to immortalize local sports history. For 13 years, the committee honored local athletes each month and a variety of annual award winners. In 1970, the Sugar Bowl stepped in to sponsor and revitalize the committee, leading to the creation of the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, honoring 10 legends from the Crescent City in its first induction class. While adding the responsibility of selecting Hall of Famers, the committee has continued to recognize the top athlete in the New Orleans area each month as well as a range of annual awards – the honors enter their 70th year in 2026.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 114 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 92-year history. The 93rd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will serve as a College Football Playoff Semifinal, will be played on January 15, 2027. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.6 billion into the local economy in the last decade.
-www.AllstateSugarBowl.org-
