VC looks to stay sharp against Hanson Memorial

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.
“Hanson’s had another great year. They’ve had three tremendous years over there in this latest run. They’re battle-tested, so it’s going to be another great game. The message to the guys this week is to go out there and have fun and let’s enjoy and have a little bit of perspective over what a great season we’ve had so far.”
The Eagles are enjoying their own strong run over the last few years, having gone 10-0 in 2022 to earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last year and reaching the state championship game.
But VC graduated a big senior class, and the coaches have worked to let this year’s team develop its own identity.
“I think we’ve made a point of letting these guys be their own team,” Prejean said. “We had a lot of fun and there were a lot of opportunities to talk about last year’s team, but we want to let them stand alone, and they’ve earned their spot in our history books in the school program, and we’re proud of them.”
Seven seniors will be honored at Friday’s home game — Ethan Landry, Dane Richoux, Andrew Prejean, Roy Bertrand IV, Phillip Summers, Tyjh Williams, Ty Williams and Connor Golden.
“I think there were some things we knew we had,” the coach said. “We had some things coming back that were proven commodities. But I think it’s been our senior class, stepping into roles and keeping the standard the same and keeping their expectations the same. That senior group has been a tremendous group for four years, but this year they’ve really answered the bell.”
Prejean said good leadership is contagious, and the 2022 team had great leaders.
“I can remember having conversations this summer with the staff where we just said let this group find their way, and let it organically evolve into who’s going to step up and be the voices in the locker room, and the guys that show up at practice every day and hold that standard,” he said. “This group’s done a tremendous job of it.”
Prejean said he’s been proud and happy watching Golden, the only senior on the offensive line, staying steady and patient since his freshman year.
“You flip the side of the ball and talk about Ethan Landry, who has been a force in practice with the way he goes about his business,” Prejean said. “He’s a kid that’s never really played two ways, and you fast forward to this year and he never really comes off the field.
“Andrew Prejean is stepping in from a DB to a tight end is really doing a great job with it. That senior group has exceeded expectations.”
Quarterback Jonathan Dartez ranks first in Vermilion Parish in rushing yards (1,377 yards and 20 touchdowns on 172 carries), passing yards (900 with 11 TDs to only two interceptions) and scoring (122 points) and is in the top 15 in receiving yards (112 and 1 TD on five catches).
VC’s Ross Dartez is the leading receiver in the parish with 374 yards and three touchdowns on 20 catches, while Tyjh Williams ranks third in rushing (93 carries, 853 yards, 14 TDs) and in the top 10 in receiving (10-141, 1 TD).
“(Williams) was a guy that had to split carries (in 2022) to keep people fresh last year, but we saw the glimpses of it last year, and he’s evolved into that bell-cow guy this year, and done a tremendous job,” Prejean said. “That’s been our identity. That’s what we preach. We want to make sure that you have to defend all five of those skill guys that are on the field.”
Jyrin Bessard (7-105, 2 TDs), Richoux (8-104, 2 TDs) and Landry (6-78) also rank among the parish receiving leaders.
Hanson returns a big chunk of its team from 2022 that went 8-2 in the regular season, Prejean said.
“They motion a lot of guys and they keep your eyes moving to try to find some creases in the run game,” he said. “If you get a little too nosy, they’re going to try to take their shots deep. They have some dynamic perimeter players, and they do make it tough offensively.”
Staying disciplined on defense will be a key, Prejean said.
“I think the statement this week is we’ve got to find a way to step up and win the game,” he said. “We’re not putting any pressure on points or anything. But that defense takes a lot of pride in what they do, and they’ve established over the last three or four years that Vermilion Catholic defense is tough to deal with and they’re going to play hard.