Kaplan crushes Crowley

MAURICE — Kaplan High head football coach Cory Brodie found many things to like in his team’s performance against Crowley in the Acadia-Vermilion Jamboree on Friday at North Vermilion High School.
The Pirates cruised to a 38-14 win over the Gents, moved the ball steadily on offense and rallied on defense after giving up a few big plays early to talented Crowley running back Omar Butler.
As expected, the Pirates spread the ball to five different running backs in place of departed senior Caden Campisi, who had carried the ball about 300 times a year the past few years from his fullback position.
On Friday, Kaplan ran for 222 yards, with Bradyn Bearb leading the team in carries (10) and yards (78). The Pirates went 0-for-4 passing the ball.
“We tried to open up the passing game a little bit, but they took that away from us,” Brodie said. “We had a few dropped balls.”
Daylon Landry added 60 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, Jed Devoltz had 42 yards and a TD on eight runs, and Dane Frick added 25 yards and a touchdown on two rushes.
“Overall, I was pleased with the number of carries each guy got,” Brodie said. “I think Bradyn Bearb kind led the way, but Jed Devoltz had a lot of carries. Wyatt Hebert had some carries. Dane Frick, who’s our fifth running back, had a touchdown. Daylon Landry had some carries. I’m very pleased with how we could distribute the ball tonight.”
Butler finished with 118 yards and a touchdown on six carries, but the Gents couldn’t find the end zone in the second half after taking a 14-8 lead with 5:55 left in the opening half on a 20-yard pass from Butler. Butler had opened the scoring with a blazing 66-yard TD run less than two minutes into the game.
“The best-kept secret in Acadia Parish, unless you play them, is Omar Butler,” Brodie said. “The dude’s so dynamic, and whatever college decides to take a chance on that kid is getting an absolute steal. I have the ultimate steal for what he can do.
“He broke some long plays on us. He opens up everything for them. They got us on a play-action, thinking the ball would go in his hands. That kid’s special.”
But Kaplan answered with Devoltz’s one-yard TD run and the Bearb 2-point conversion to knot the score at 8-all.
Kaplan took the lead for good on Frick’s eight-yard scoring run and the PAT by Gannon Smith with 43 seconds left in the first half.
In the second half, Kaplan got a 5-yard touchdown run from Landry, a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown by Andre Marceaux and a 60-yard fumble return by Javarion Landry.
Brodie said the defense played assignment football to counter the Gents’ offense. Brodie also said the coaches saw some positives in the secondary, which was a question mark heading into the season.