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MAURICE - Neil Arsement will be the next mayor of the town of Maurice.
Arsement defeated longtime incumbent Mayor Wayne Theriot on Tuesday. Theriot is in his third term.
Arsement received 445 votes (63%). Theriot had 261 votes (37%).

MAURICE - Jonathan Schlicher is still one of the candidates for Maurice Board of Aldermen.Schlicher, who has served on the town's board of aldermen since being elected in 2018, had announced last month that he would be withdrawing from the race due to a potential move outside of the Maurice limits. That news had been reported in the Abbeville Meridional. However, those plans changed, prompting Schlicer to commit to remaining in the race.
Schlicher released a statement following his decision to continue his re-election bid: "I announced that I was withdrawing from the race for alderman due to signing a purchase agreement for a new home. While all indicators said we were good, I felt like it was proper for me to plan for a departure. As the days progressed, there was something that continued to tell me don’t file the papers yet to withdraw from the race. This past week we received news that we would not be able to move forward with the home and I would continue to be within limits of Maurice. Upon the news, I felt an “it is what it is” moment, since my announcement on social media, the newspaper picking it up for a front-page article, etc., I had a well “what is done is done” mentality. When certain individuals within the current council, other candidates, and a few citizens learned of the news of the home falling through, some reached out asking me if I was still out. Informing them I was still in due to paperwork not being filed yet, they requested and advise that I stay in the race and announce my return. So after careful consideration and asking for guidance, I have decided to officially resume seeking the office for another term. I know that for some of you, this may excite you as this now gives you a choice, which was always my desire to always provide you with a choice in representation. Some of you may think, this guy doesn’t know what he wants, but honestly, I want what is best for the town, and having a choice is better than not. As for the question what if you want to move again, likely we will, but it will be to another home within the Maurice Town limits. Our family has discussed it and my lovely wife knows deep down I desire and love to serve the community. I still won’t have signs, but I hope you all still support me for another term as your alderman that represents you all and collectively works to make the best decisions for Maurice as a whole."
Schlicher is one of six candidates for five spots on the Maurice Board of Aldermen. Those candidates include Troy Catalon, Megan Landry-Lalande, Warren Rost, Matthew Trahan and Scott Trahan. The five who receive the most votes will be elected. Election day is this Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

KAPLAN — The Peter Russo Memorial Trophy will remain in Abbeville for another year after the Wildcats claimed a 14-13 win over Kaplan on Friday night.
The trophy, which is named in honor of a 1941 AHS graduate who died while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944 during World War II, has been given to the winner of the Abbeville-Kaplan game every year since Russo’s family established the trophy in 1961. Abbeville won the trophy in 2021 for the first time in 16 years, and retained it with Friday’s down-to-the-wire win.
“We got what we came for,” Abbeville coach Roderick Moy said, patting the trophy after his team improved to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in District 5-3A. “I’m proud of our kids.”
The Wildcats will enter the non-select Division II playoffs likely somewhere in the middle-teens in the power rankings, possibly with a home game. In unofficial power rankings released by Louisiana high school sports website geauxpreps.com, Kaplan (4-6, 1-3) is No. 30 in the power rankings and would miss the playoffs.
The LHSAA plans to release the brackets at noon on Sunday.
“(We have) a little momentum going into the playoffs. Hey, look, we’re spoiled a little bit. We ain’t too far removed from the 2-8s and 1-9s of the world,” Moy said, referring to Abbeville’s record in recent years before reaching the quarterfinals in 2021. “But just because we were 11-2 last year, people act like 6-4 is a bad season. I’m proud of this thing. I’m proud of these kids. Six and four, going into the playoffs, I’ll take that, and I’ll take our shot next week.”
The game came down to a stop on a 2-point conversion attempt after Kaplan had rallied to within a point with 1:01 remaining in the game. Kaplan fullback Caden Campisi, who had scored the touchdown on a rugged 12-yard run moments earlier, was stopped just shy of the goal line on the 2-point try.
“Even right there at the end, when you’ve got to have a stop to win the ballgame, our kids were able to rise up to it,” Moy said. “They stayed, read their keys, and were disciplined.
“The thing I value about that the most is, he had about eight white jerseys on him. We gang-tackled. We played as a football team. We stayed together. We could’ve cracked at halftime, because we probably should have scored a lot more points, and we didn’t (crack). I’m proud of that.”
Kaplan coach Cory Brodie said a few factors went into the decision to go for the win with the 2-point try. First was a stiff wind that would have been blowing straight at the Pirates on a kick attempt.
“One of their better players (Zaylun Williams) that was playing the strong side for them all night went down two plays before,” Brodie said. “I think we had about a 15 or 20 mile an hour wind, which I think was the same reason coach Moy wanted to go for 2 on his second touchdown.
“Also, it’s kind of our m.o. (to go for it on fourth down or 2-point tries). We punted twice tonight. I don’t remember the last time we punted twice, maybe North Vermilion. Plus, we have a freshman kicker, who’s been phenomenal for us, but I’d rather give it to the guy that took us down there (Campisi). If I could do it again, I’d go for 2 again.”
Abbeville came out firing to open the game, with quarterback Tahj Judge nearly connecting with receiver Brian Gordon for a 58-yard TD on the game’s first snap.
“They knew they had to stop our run game. We had a size advantage on them. We took our shot early,” Moy said. “We had some more shots to take, but we felt like we were being successful running the football right at them, too. We didn’t do a lot wrong offensively except for the penalties (nine for 75 yards). We’ve got to tighten up if we’re going to make a run.”
That opening drive didn’t result in points, but an interception by Chad Nolan on Kaplan’s second possession set up a four-play, 31-yard scoring drive for the Wildcats to break the scoring ice. Jaysen Shelvin went in tom 16 yards out with 2:46 left in the first period and Edwin Ramirez kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Shelvin rushed for 59 yards on eight carries. Tresea Greene led the Wildcats with 66 yards on 16 runs.
Kaplan answered with an 18-play, 80-yard scoring drive on its next possession to tie the score. Campisi carried on nine of those plays, netting 43 yards, including a 3-yard TD run, and Jed Devoltz converted a fourth-and-2 play with an eight-yard carry to keep the drive alive. Campisi finished the game with 119 yards and two TDs on 30 carries, raising his season totals to 1,850 yards and 23 TDs, both tops in Vermilion Parish.
Daylon Landry had five carries for 19 yards on the drive, and finished with 34 yards on 11 runs. Brodie said it was good to see Landry have success because he’s a player who always does more than is asked of him and puts in extra work in the weight room.
“That was more what they gave us,” Brodie said of the big workload for Landry, a sophomore. “Coach (Tank) Lotief (Abbeville’s defensive coordinator and former KHS head coach) has one of the better defensive minds, especially against the wing-T, which he’s coached. We had a tendency to run strong, and (Landry) is a strong-side running back, so we ran him weak (side) a lot. He’s a guy that wasn’t starting a lot for us, he got some reps Jed Devoltz was injured a little (recently) and played more on defense. “I’m super proud of all the young kids that got experience in this game.”
Abbeville took the lead on its first possession of the third quarter, going 66 yards in nine plays, with Tyrelle Harrison going 19 yards untouched to the end zone for the TD with 4:17 left in the quarter. After a couple of penalties on an attempted 2-point try, Abbeville settled for the kick from Ramirez for the 14-7 lead.
Kaplan put together one last drive in the fourth quarter, chewing up 10 full minutes on 20 plays, including a pair of fourth-down conversions on runs by Campisi. The Senior ballcarrier had the ball in his hands on 14 of the 20 plays on the drive, netting 67 yards, including the seven-yard TD that pulled Kaplan to within 1.
“I love that kid,” Brodie said. “No words can describe what he means to me and to this team. I’m more sad that we lost. I love this school so much. The passion comes from feeling for the kids. When you have those emotions you realize how much you’ve grown in the past two years.
“We played a team last week (Church Point) that reached the semifinals, and lost in the last minute. This team, coach Moy said at the beginning of the year they have state championship aspirations, and they were a quarterfinal team last year.”
Moy said the Wildcats expected Kaplan to give them their best shot.
“We knew,” Moy said. “But they got ours, too. People like to say discipline vs. athletes, or this, that and the other. Giving up 13 points to that ball club is tough, and our kids rose to the challenge.”
Brodie also was proud of the way his team played.
“I’m so proud of these guys and the way they fought,” he said. “Just being down early, we could’ve given up. It’s a different team than it was week 1 and week 2. Defensively we gave up five touchdowns in the last four games. They were on the field the entire first half and only gave up one touchdown. I’m really proud of my players. I’m really proud of my assistant coaches. They’ve been the hardest and longest working guys I’ve been around in coaching.”
In the end, the Wildcats got the win and the trophy they were after
“I’m always going to bet on our kids, and we got what we came for,” Moy said.

KAPLAN - Everyone in Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium knew who would get the football on a two-point conversion play for the Kaplan Pirates.
Everyone, including the Abbeville High defense, knew.
Kaplan got within one point, 14-13, after a Caden Campisi 7-yard TD run with 1:01 to play in the game.
KHS head coach Cory Brodie had the decision to make. Rely on a freshman kicker, or go with your senior who has 1,700 rushing yards on the year?
He went with the better odds and gave Campisi the football.
On the other end of the football, eleven Wildcats had their eyes on one player - Campisi.
KHS quarterback Raine Mire handed the ball to Campisi and was stopped on the line of scrimmage.
AHS defensive end Tezarron Stewert and linebacker Jaysen Shelvin stepped up and sandwiched Campisi on the line for no gain.
“We knew Campisi was having a good game and averaging three yards a carry,” said Shelvin. “So, Tezarron and I knew he would get the ball inside. We both crashed inside. He got the tackle, and I finished it up.
“It was a great feeling to stop him. I almost cried.”
Stewert, wearing jersey No. 89 against Kaplan, said there was no doubt the Wildcats would stop the two-point play.
“The coach told me to jam the play, and I did,” said Stewert. “Our defense then finished off the play.”
The two-point conversion stop sealed the game with just under a minute to play.
It also meant the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy was heading back to Abbeville High for the second straight year. Before last year, the Russo Trophy stayed at Kaplan High for 15 years.
Abbeville defensive back Broderic Fletcher was thrilled to bring the trophy back to Abbeville.
“It feels great,” said Fletcher. “We executed. We did our job. But at the end of the day, you have to focus and get the win.”
Abbeville will wait and see who it will play in the playoffs. With the loss, Kaplan is expected not to make the playoffs.