Erath runs over VC; Mitchell rushes for 316 yards

Rain showers greeted the Erath Bobcats when they arrived at Vermilion Catholic on Friday – a dreary sign for an EHS program that had not grounded the Eagles since 2010.
But by halftime the visitors had showered VC with five Elijah Mitchell touchdowns to power a 41-0 victory.
“We talked all week about being ready to play this game,” said Mitchell, a UL Ragin’ Cajun commitment. “And, we made plays.”
As usual, Mitchell was the focal point of the EHS attack, rushing 17 times for 316 yards and scoring jaunts of 58, 74, 42, 52 and 2 yards.
He scored the first time he touched the ball, and had no touches at all in the second half as the merciful Bobcats saved their main weapon for challenges to come.
The Eagles often knew what to expect, but could do nothing to slow him down.
“The 24 and 25 counter are my favorite plays,” Mitchell said. “I give my offensive line credit; they gave me some big holes. They’re getting better.”
Friday’s victory snapped a 5-game series losing streak for the Bobcats - none of whom had ever beaten VC – and produced an all-time 30-26-3 edge between the two.
The Eagles of coach Ossie Blaize fell to 0-3 against a brutal early schedule including Catholic High, Kaplan and EHS.
“They have a good football team, and they’re going to win some games,” said EHS coach Keith Calvert. “But we knew they’re a little thin, having to play people both ways, and we took advantage of it.
“It starts with the guys up front. They did a great job. Elijah’s going to get his yards and they enjoy helping him get them, because as good a player he is, he’s a great kid and a leader of this team.”
Calvert, the defensive coordinator, filled in as head coach for David Comeaux, who was unavailable.
“It’s bittersweet, because we’d like coach Comeaux to be here, but the kids did a great job all week dealing with distractions,” Calvert said. “We kept working at it, and got better all week.”
The results were obvious as the visitors mounted scoring possessions of 1, 6, 4, 3 and 5 plays in the first half.
The game turned quickly in EHS’s favor. After Mitchell’s first lightning strike, the Eagles threatened to keep pace. But their drive was halted by a fumble, EHS took over at its 2, and soon Mitchell’s 74-yarder capped a 98-yard thrust for a two-score advantage.
The visitors were literally off and running.
Erath pulled in the reins after intermission, but still scored on Coy LeBlanc’s 56-yard, tip-drill interception return – one of five such thefts by EHS defenders.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Calvert said. “They work hard, they’re starting to gel and they love each other.
“If we stay healthy, I think we can be pretty good. There’s not a team on the schedule we can’t beat.”
For the first time in a long time, that includes Vermilion Catholic.
Erath had 454 yards rushing compared to VC with 105.
VC’s Kalix Broussard had 22 carries for 98 yards.
VC quarterback JT Lege did not have a good night. He was 5 for 18 for 80 yards.
Andrew Marceaux stepped in to play quarterback for VC. He completed 4 out of 11 passes for 35 yards. The two QBs combined to throw five interceptions.