Erath defense stops Abbeville when needed

ERATH — The Erath Bobcats’ defense came up big against the Abbeville Wildcats in a district showdown.
The Bobcats (5-3, 2-1) held Abbeville to 21 points and stopped the big plays when the game was on the line.
Abbeville (5-3, 2-1) rushed for 241 yards but lost 31-21.
The EHS defense forced Abbeville to play catchup football. Erath stayed ahead all game, taking Abbeville out of its run-controlled offense. The Wildcats threw 15 times, something EHS defensive coordinator Jonathan Bouillion wanted to happen.
“We knew that if our offense was going to move the football, we wanted to press and make Abbeville throw the football,” Bouillion said. “That is what we wanted them to do.”
The Bobcats’ defense came up big late in the second period. Erath was ahead 14-6 and forced Abbeville to punt. However, an EHS player touched the ball, and the Wildcats recovered on the EHS 30-yard line. The excellent field position gave Abbeville a chance to score right before halftime.
Abbeville marched down to the EHS 14-yard-line and was threatening to score. However, an alert EHS cornerback Bo Lancon tipped a pass at the 5-yard line, and EHS’s Blake Dautreuil plucked the ball out of the sky for an interception, killing Abbeville’s scoring threat right before halftime.
“I thought we played a great first half, and we needed to continue to do that in the second half. We needed that kind of second half,” Bouillion said.
Erath’s defense answered when called on.
In the second half, the EHS defense came up big in Abbeville’s opening drive. The Wildcats were at midfield, and a bobbled handoff gave EHS freshman defensive end Kaiden Viator the opportunity of a lifetime. Viator saw running back Jaysen Shelvin juggling the football. Viator, about to make the tackle, reached in and snatched the football out of Shelvin’s hands.
“I snuck my hand in there, and grabbed it and took off with it,” said Viator about the fumble. “It just happened. I did not think about it. I took the ball and tried to go to the house.”
Viator turned upfield and ran 16 yards downfield before he was tackled. The Bobcats’ offense turned that turnover into seven points and a 21-6 lead.
The Wildcats punted the ball four times, and three were in the first half.
Abbeville’s top rusher was Trasean Greene, who had a career night with 117 yards on 17 carries. Shelvin was held to only 17 yards rushing.
Erath cornerback Christen Migues said. “Our defense works together as a team. We rallied to the football. Our game plan was simple - make the tackles and wrap up.”
After going ahead 31-21 on a 37-yard-field goal from Dylan Duhon with 1:05 to play in the game, the Bobcats’ defense was called on one final time.
The game’s final play turned out to be a sack by EHS defensive lineman Chase Broussard, ending Abbeville’s threat.
“The game plan was winning the battle in the trenches,” said Bouillion. “I think we did that.”