Kaplan crushes North Vermilion

KAPLAN – The Kaplan Pirates defeated the North Vermilion Patriots Friday night, 37-6, at Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium.
Kaplan head coach Stephen Lotief was proud of how his team bounced back from a week one defeat and a week two cancellation due to Hurricane Francine.  His team had a good week of practice, and it showed.
 “We kept battling,” Lotief said.  “I’m proud that we stayed focused and kept after them.  Our motto this week was good, bad, or ugly, play the next play. Two weeks ago, we folded.  Tonight, we just played the next play.
 “The scoreboard is like that because of the way we practiced.  We haven’t practiced well.  Our effort and focus were much better this week.  When you are playing your next-door neighbor, you better bring something.”
Kaplan (1-1) did exactly what North Vermilion head coach Roderick Moy told his team they would do.  He also felt the Patriots made too many mistakes.
 “They were more physical than us,” Moy said.  We talked all week about the most physical team would win the game.  We made the first mistake, the worst mistake, and the most mistakes.  That’s why the scoreboard looks like it does.”
North Vermilion (1-2) made its first mistake on the first offensive play of the game. After forcing a Kaplan punt, the Patriots put the ball on the turf, and Kaplan recovered at the NV 16-yard line.  
Six plays later, Wyatt Hebert scored from one yard out to put Kaplan ahead for good.  Daylon Landry ran in the two-point conversion to put Kaplan ahead 8-0 with 6:13 to play in the first quarter.
The Pirates made it 16-0 on their next possession when Landry scored from four yards out, and Bradyn Bearb ran in the conversion with 10:48 to play in the first half.
Landry struck again on the Pirates’ next possession, racing around the right side and down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown run.  Dane Frick ran in the conversion to put Kaplan ahead 24-0 at the break.
The Patriots scored their lone touchdown on the second half’s opening drive.  Heath Aubrey caught the pitch on a hook and ladder play and raced to the end zone from 18 yards out.  The conversion failed, making the score 24-6.
Kaplan quarterback Sabe David threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.  He found Gannon Smith for a 36-yard touchdown and then found a streaking Kodi Clement from 39 yards out to provide the final margin.
Landry led the Pirates’ rushing attack with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.  Hebert finished with 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 totes.  David went 4-of-8 for 94 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Higginbotham finished 3-of-14 for 37 yards and one touchdown for North Vermilion.  Grant Wise had 19 yards on nine carries, while Higginbotham finished with 18 yards on seven carries.
Both teams will be on the road on Friday. Kaplan travels to Breaux Bridge, while North Vermilion is at Northside.