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LEROY - When you have a playmaker running your offense, everyone knows to be on their toes because you never know what could happen.
Darius Gilliam is North Vermilion’s starting quarterback. In Thursday’s season opener against the Abbeville Wildcats, Gilliam made things happen and helped NV win 30-7.
He danced and ran around in the backfield until something happened. On an early snap count, while his teammates stood around, Gilliam alertly took off and scored a touchdown. When he looked like he was about to be tackled, he pitched it to a running back or threw it downfield to an open receiver. There were even times when he tried to do too much, and it did not go his way.
Late in the game, NV head coach Brett Blakey reminded Gilliam that he had teammates.
“Sometimes I think he thinks he has to do it all, and he does not have to,” said Blakey. “I was telling him to trust the system. It is something as a head coach I have to live with. We will have great moments, and we will have our bad moments.”
North Vermilion’s offense had more great moments than it did bad moments.
On paper, Gilliam rushed 60 yards and threw for 117 yards. He completed 79 percent (11-out-of-14 passes) of his passes.
His first completion of the night was a 20-yard completion to Dale Martin. On the tackle, Martin injured his shoulder and is expected to miss a few games.
On the same drive, with 45 seconds to play in the first quarter and on the AHS 4, the ball was snapped to Gilliam. The snap came earlier than expected, and few players moved, except for Gilliam and receiver Daylon Deculus. He found Deculus alone in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
The Patriots went ahead 14-0 on a 70-yard drive that was capped off when Gilliam ran six yards for a touchdown. He also had two completions on the drive. One was a 10-yard completion to Zack Necaise and a 5-yard catch by Christian McNees.
On the Patriots’ next possession in the second quarter, Gilliam looked to be sacked but then threw a floater to Deculus, who caught the ball over his shoulder. It kept NV’s third scoring drive alive.
Deculus said players can’t fall asleep with Gilliam at QB.
“He is always scrambling,” Deculus said. “We have Play A and then there is Play B. You have to find a place to get open, and once you are open, he will find you. It reminds me of playing backyard football. He is running around to find the open receiver.”
On the same drive, Deculus also had a one-handed 10-yard catch where he landed on the AHS 1-yard line.
“I was running my route, and there was space in the corner,” Deculus said. “He threw it high, and I went up. I am not sure how I caught it. I came down with the ball. I thought I fell in the end zone, but the referee said I did not cross.”
In the game, Deculus had three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. McNees also had three receptions for seven yards.
Running back Kendrick Baudoin had 18 carries for 89 yards. His longest run was a 37-yard run. Baudoin also had three catches for 17 yards.
NV rookie kicker Patrick Chapman, who is the goalie for the Patriots’ soccer team, made his first-ever high school field goal by nailing an 18-yarder late in the third period to make it 30-0.
The North Vermilion defense only gave up seven points against Abbeville.
The Wildcats had 145 yards of offense. AHS quarterback Jaidyn O’Brien led AHS with 10 carries for 49 yards. He scored a one yard touchdown in the third quarter.
It was made possible by a 40-yard reception to Charles Shuford. Shuford had two catches for 48 yards.

The Vermilion Boys & Girls Club Rodney Unit is now open for its afterschool program, and homework assistance is readily available.
According to Brian Ford Director of the Boys & Girls Club, “This school year we have two AmeriCorps Members at the club daily to assist all participants with their homework. I encourage parents and school teachers to please consider our program to ensure students get off to a great start this school year.”
In addition to all club members getting individual help with their homework, the club also has other educational resources available to further help students. This includes brand new touch screen computers that can be used for additional reinforcement of school material, as well as projects, and research.
The Boys & Girls Club is also partnering with Junior Auxiliary where their Lessons in Literacy Program will be implemented monthly. Each month members of JA come to the club and read a book to club members that focuses around life lessons teaching participants good decision making skills. According to Ford, "Reading is a valuable skill that we promote daily at the Boys & Girls Club. There is plenty of research corelating a child's academic success to their ability to be proficient readers by the third grade."
The Boys & Girls Club is located in AA Comeaux Park and is open to all school age youth ages 6-18. The Club is open Monday thru Friday and all participants receive a healthy meal daily at 4:30pm at no extra cost. The fee to attend the afterschool program is a one-time fee of only $10. For more information on the Boys & Girls Club please contact Brian Ford at 898-9745.

I am thrilled to announce that I am seeking election to the Kaplan City Council to continue my services as Councilman for District C.
I am currently the Councilman for District C and would love to be given the opportunity to continue to serve the great city of Kaplan and more importantly the wonderful people of District C. Together we can make Kaplan a better place and move forward with improvements.
Ever since I moved back to Kaplan 7 years ago it was a goal of mine to get involved in some way shape or form and contribute. Either by donating my time to an organization, joining a committee or board, helping out with fundraisers, or even just being a part of my neighborhood by talking and helping out those around me. It is imperative to me that I know my neighbors and they know me and understand that I will be there for them if I can. Little did I know that one day I would be called to serve by being asked to join the city council. And when that time came, I felt it was my duty to accept the challenge. Hopefully I can inspire others to join me in the cause.
I was born and raised in Kaplan and am a graduate of KHS 2001. I am also an alumni of McNeese State University earning a Business management degree in 2009 as well as being a member of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. I currently work as a gas measurement technician at the Sea Robin Pipeline plant in Erath, as well as going into my 6th season of being a high school football referee.
My biggest accomplishment so far has been being a proud single father to my 6-year-old daughter, Noellyn, who just started the 1st grade at Kaplan Elementary. My family includes my parents Darrin and Toni Johnson, my younger sister Brittany, and my gone but will never be forgotten little brother Pete.
Once again, I would love to be given the opportunity to continue to serve Kaplan. In my 2 years of being on the finance committee and my 1 year of being a councilman, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every member of the committees, council, city hall staff, the mayor and most importantly the citizens. They truly do not know how much they have helped me grow!
Let’s do this together. Call me at 337-513-7131 to discuss.

Thank You,

Justin “JJ” Johnson

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Justin “JJ” Johnson