Kaplan has tough game against Madison

KAPLAN - The Kaplan Pirates and first-year head coach Cory Brodie have a daunting task ahead of them tonight as they head to Baton Rouge to take on No. 8 Madison Prep (9-1) in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
But daunting tasks are nothing new for Brodie and this season’s Pirates.
“If you think about it, we played the No. 2 seed in Class 2A (Loreauville), the No. 2 seed in Class 3A (Abbeville), the No. 3 seed in Class 3A, (St. Martinville), the No. 15 seed in Class 3A (Erath) and the No. 5 seed in Class 3A (Church Point),” Brodie said. “Except for St. Martinville and Church Point, we were within one possession of each of the other teams and had a chance to win.”
So taking on the No. 8 seed Madison Prep shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Oh no,” Brodie said, with emphasis. “They are really good and talented, and we’re going to have to play some of our best football against them.”
In the spring, Brodie led Kaplan to a 4-6 record in the regular season and the 25th seed in the Class 3A playoffs.
“We played some good competition this year and were a play away from winning two games,” Brodie said. “We haven’t won that big game yet, but we’re close. We keep getting closer.”
Could tonight’s game at Memorial Stadium in Baton Rouge be that one big game the Pirates win?
“The kids came out this week and practiced hard, and we have a really good game plan in place,” Brodie said. “It hasn’t felt like the season is done, which is good.
“There is a lot of positive things going on this week, and I tell the kids we don’t have to be better than them for a whole calendar year. We just have to be better than them for 48 minutes.”
Brodie feels that his first year has been a success.
“I’ve had great support here from coaches that have been here for a long while to a principal that is a former coach and has let me bounce ideas off him and he gives me advice on different things as well.
“People have been supportive. I feel that I’m exactly where God wants me to be in my life. I couldn’t be happier.
“I wish I could have won a few more games this year, but it’s all a process, and I’m glad I’m at Kaplan.”
As for tonight’s game, Brodie knows exactly what his Pirates have to do to move to the second round.
“Offensively, we have to do what we’ve done all year, control the clock but punch it in when we get the chance,” Brodie said.
“Defensively, we know they are going to make some big plays, and we just can’t let them make too many big plays and get them off the field when we can.”
The Pirates are firing on all cylinders in the rushing game.
Caden Campisi leads the team in rushing with 1,269 yards on 324 carries.
Gabe Clement returns to the backfield. He has 66 totes for 345 yards and two scores on the year.