Sports

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Abbeville High School’s football team celebrates an 18-14 win over Kaplan on Friday with the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy, given to the winning team of the game each year since 1961 in honor of a former AHS football player who died while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II. Abbeville won the game for the third straight year, and captured the District 5-3A championship for the first time since 1997 in the process.

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Abbeville tight end Chayson Gray (29) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Da’Zavien Maze in front of Kaplan defender Brayden Bearb (6) on Friday.

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Daylon Landry (15) of Kaplan runs upfield as quarterback Sabe David watches on Friday.

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Justin Montgomery (9) of Abbeville takes a spill over Kaplan defender Coy Terro (8) on Friday.

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Kaplan fullback Jed Devoltz (11) is tackled by Abbeville cornerback Tahj Judge (1) on Friday.

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Abbeville senior quarterback Tahj Judge (1) gets outside on a 12-yard run to score a touchdown on his only carry of the game on Friday against Kaplan. Giving chase is Kaplan defender Remy Broussard (13).

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Kaplan quarterback Sabe David (10) carries the ball after faking a handoff to Brayden Bearb (6) on Friday.

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Abbeville fullback Zaylun Williams (32) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown against Kaplan on Friday.

Abbeville wins district title

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 12:23am

The Abbeville Wildcats marked a number of high spots with a come-from-behind 18-14 win over the Kaplan Pirates on Friday.
The Wildcats held onto the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy for the third straight season after having lost the previous 15 games against Kaplan.
Abbeville also solidified a home spot in the Non-Select Division II football playoffs after entering the game as the No. 14 team in the unofficial power rankings.

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VC quarterback Jonathan Dartez (left) celebrates with teammate Hudson Hebert after Dartez scored a touchdown.

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VC's Jyrin Bessard keeps his eye on the football before he catches it.

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VC's Allen McLain tackles a Hanson player.

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VC receiver Ross Dartez hauls in a reception.

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VC defensive back Phillip Summers (21) knocks the ball out of a Hanson receiver's hands after he caught the ball.

VC seniors have not lost district game in their four years

Sat, 11/04/2023 - 12:05am

It’s a rare achievement for seniors not to lose a district game during high school. Still, this year’s Vermilion Catholic High School seniors can proudly say that they were part of four perfect district seasons, having gone 22-0 in the district.
The eight seniors who accomplished this impressive feat are Ethan Landry, Dane Richoux, Andrew Prejean, Roy Bertrand IV, Phillip Summers, Tyjh Williams, Ty Williams and Connor Golden.
They secured their perfect district record by crushing Hanson 43-14 in their final regular-season game at home.

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Vermilion Catholic placekicker Dane Richoux (8) prepares to kick an extra point as Jonathan Dartez (1) holds the ball during a district game at Jeanerette this season. The Eagles are currently No. 1 in the LHSAA’s power ratings in Select Division IV and are expected to have a first-round bye in the playoffs. Playoff brackets and first-round pairings will be announced on Sunday.

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Abbeville running back Edmar Simon III (5) carries the ball against St. Martinville this past week. The Wildcats close out the regular season tonight at home against Kaplan. The winner will claim both the District 5-3A title and the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy. Abbeville is No. 14 in the Non-Select Division II power ratings.

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Kaplan fullback Jed Devoltz (11) carries the ball against North Vermilion in the 2023 season opener. The Pirates close out the regular season at Abbeville tonight with the District 5-3A title and the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy on the line. Kaplan is No. 20 in the Non-Select Division II power ratings.

3 VP teams aim for playoffs

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 4:55pm

Three Vermilion Parish teams are solidly in the playoff picture with one game remaining in the 2023 high school football season.
Vermilion Catholic, Abbeville and Kaplan each are situated in the top 20 in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s unofficial power ratings for their respective divisions.

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Vermilion Catholic will look to finish 10-0 in the regular season and unbeaten in district for the second straight year when the Eagles take on Hanson Memorial on Friday for Senior Night at VC.

VC looks to stay sharp against Hanson Memorial

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:37am

Vermilion Catholic faces one final district test before the playoffs start, and the Screaming Eagles face an opponent on Senior Night that will make sure they do that.
VC (9-0 overall, 5-0 in District 7-A) is No. 1 in the unofficial LHSAA Select Division IV power rankings, while Hanson Memorial (7-2, 4-1) is 15th.
“We’re excited,” VC coach Broc Prejean said. “You get a quality opponent in Week 10, and that’s what you hope for, to kind of get to sharpen the sword before the playoffs.

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The Kaplan High Pirates head into Friday’s football game at Abbeville with several things on the line, including winning their first outright district championship since 2018. Both teams are 7-2 overall and 3-0 in District 3-5A. Also up for grabs is the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy, presented to the winning team in the game every year since 1961. Abbeville has won the last two after Kaplan had kept the trophy for 15 straight years. Both teams also are hoping to earn a first-round home game in the playoffs, which is likely for the winner to achieve.

A lot on the line for Kaplan

Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:36am

KAPLAN — Taking things one day at a time has been the mantra for the Kaplan High Pirates in 2023, and it’s been a successful approach to the football season that’s helped Kaplan rebound from a 4-6 mark the previous year to a 7-2 record overall and 3-0 in District 5-3A, heading into Friday’s regular-season finish at Abbeville High’s Wildcat Stadium.
But the players don’t live in a vacuum, KHS coach Cory Brodie acknowledges, and they know just what Friday’s game means to both teams.

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