Abbeville defense comes up big on two-point conversion play

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.