Eagles’ LaPorte named parish Defensive MVP

By: William McDaniel
In football, it has been said, one hand washes the other.

That being the case, Vermilion Catholic’s success this season is owed as much to a stingy defense as to its tremendously productive offense.

In light of that fact, VC’s leading tackler, defensive back Mark LaPorte, is the Vermilion Parish Defensive MVP.

LaPorte, 18, the son of Todd and Michelle LaPorte of Abbeville, had 138 tackles, 72 of which were solo, on the season to lead swarming VC defensive attack.

Five of LaPorte’s tackles were for losses. He also had two sacks and a fumble recovery to go with his five interceptions, and nine passes defensed. He scored three defensive touchdowns on the season.

LaPorte said he “loved” playing this season.

“I had the best time of my life,” he said, admitting that it is easy to have fun when you go undefeated in the regular season like the Eagles did in 2011.

“We kept saying, ‘Let’s go and just have fun,’” he continued. “That’s what we did. We just went out and played.”

As a DB, LaPorte said his job was usually made easy by his cohorts at the front.

“It all started with the line,” he said. “If they stopped them, we didn’t have to. But if not, then it just keeps moving back.”

VC quarterback Aaron David said LaPorte and the rest of the defense instilled confidence in the offense.

“We knew that they were going to stop people,” he said. “They did a great job of helping us out and getting us more opportunities to score.”

An important part of that speedy VC line was first-team All-Parish selection Derek Broussard. Also a first-team All-District lineman, Broussard led the Eagles with 10 sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to go with a safety, the only one for the Eagles in 2011.

Joining Broussard on the first-team All-Parish defensive line are Delcambre’s Toby Duhon, Erath’s Hunter Darby and North Vermilion’s Castle Drummer. All of the linemen were first-team All-District selections.

Darby was a week four Player of the Week selection, thanks to 13 tackles, and a fumble recovery against Berwick, a performance he backed up week after week for Erath.

Drummer had 40 tackles, 26 of which were solo. He forced two fumbles and recovered two on the year.

Duhon had 60 tackles, four for losses totaling 36 yards. He also hurried the QB seven times and forced two fumbles.

At the linebacker position, VC’s Chris Stakes, Shay LaPorte and Joey Faulk earned spots on the All-Parish team.

Stakes had 111 tackles for the Eagles, 14 of which were for a loss. He also had three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Shay LaPorte had 107 tackles, 19 for losses. he also had a sack and two passes defensed.

Faulk had 96 tackles, 18 for losses, four sacks and an interception. He also had a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Also at linebacker on the first team is Kaplan’s Jacques Laviolette, a first-team All-District linebacker in District 9-3A.

Making the All-Parish squad at the defensive back position are NV’s Kenny Johnson and Landon Dupuy.

Johnson led the Patriots with 103 tackles, 51 of which were solo. He also had six interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.

Dupuy was also NV’s leading receiver with 23 catches for 215 yards and a second-team All-District selection.

Joining his teammate LaPorte as a first-team defensive back is VC’s Michael Campbell, who had 47 tackles this season. He also had three interceptions, a fumble recovery and led his team with five defensive touchdowns.

In the all-purpose slot on the All-Parish first team is NV’s Tim Baudoin. A versatile team leader, Baudoin had 71 tackles, 34 of which were solo. He also had two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Transitioning to the offense, Baudoin had 279 yards rushing on 58 carries with three touchdowns.

The All-Parish punter is Delcambre senior Mark Rodrigue.

Rodrigue had 28 points totaling 1,012 yards for a 36 yard average. 12 of his kicks left opponents inside their own 20-yard line.

Finally, the first-team kick returner is Delcambre’s Christian Umphries.

Umphries had 15 kickoff returns totaling 469 yards with two TDs, one of which went for 96 yards. He also rushed for 525 yards, had 121 yards receiving, with eight touchdowns for the Panthers on offense.

Defensively, Umphries had 27 tackles, 14 solo, and two passes defensed.

First Team Defense

DL – Hunter Darby ...Erath..Senior

DL – Derek Broussard ...VC...Senior

DL – Toby Duhon... Delcambre...Senior

DL – Castle Drummer ...NV...Soph

LB – Shay LaPorte ...VC...Soph

LB – Jacques Laviolette ...Kaplan...Senior

LB – Chris Stakes ...VC...Senior

LB – Joey Faulk ...VC...Junior

DB – Kenny Johnson ...NV...Junior

DB – Mark LaPorte ...VC...Senior

DB – Landon Dupuy ...NV...Senior

DB – Michael Campbell ...VC...Soph

AP – Tim Baudoin ...NV...Senior

P – Mark Rodrigue ...Delcambre...Senior

Ret – Christian Umphries ...Delcambre...Senior

MVP – Mark LaPorte. ... Vermilion Catholic

Second Team Defense

DL – Trey Rider ............VC

DL – Jonathan Breaux .......Kaplan

DL – J.J. Cote´ ............VC

DL – Samuel Derise .........Delcambre

LB – Drake Broussard .......VC

LB – Riley Maturin .........NV

LB – Ashton Eastin .........Delcambre

LB – Darrel Chambers ......Abbeville

DB – Christian Fauntleroy ..NV

DB – Austin Domingues ......Erath

DB – Rendrick Nunez ........VC

DB – Javonte Soelv .........Abbeville

P – Ross Duhon ...........Abbeville

Honorable Mention

(Offense and Defense)

Abbeville- Clyde Mitchell, John Clostio, Jorge Felipe, Abel Terrell, Buck Morris

Delcambre- Robert Primeaux, Clarence Farrier, Chet McGee

Erath- Wayne Scalisi, Jimmy Jordan, David Vincent, Nich Lucas, Jordan Sonnier, Jerret Dooley, Antonio Willis, Jarrod Lange, Beau Dugas

Gueydan- Austin Zaunbrecher, Kade Thevis, Canaan Delhomme, Josh Hebert

Kaplan- Michael Henry, Dylan Roussel, Hunter Miller, Slade Boullion, Tyson Broussard, Brice Trahan, Dante Davis

North Vermilion- Dane Briggs, Chad Beraud, Joe Duhon

Vermilion Catholic- Stephan Guidry, Eric Patout, Caleb Zaunbrecher, Tristen Kelly