Pirates raid Wolverines

After a rough loss last week to the hands of district rival Notre Dame, some thought Kaplan may have a little trouble with the Mansfield Wolverines.

Well, if trouncing the Wolverines by the final score of 46-6 doesn’t prove that the Pirates have left that game in the rear view mirror, there is very little that will.

It all started up front for the Pirates.
Both the offensive and defensive lines played an exceptional game.

The offensive line blocked its way to 391 yards on the ground and another 32 through the air.

The defense led by the defensive line only allowed five total first downs in the game. Three of which came on Mansfield last drive, when the second and some of the third string were already in the game.

“Our lines played great,” Kaplan head coach Stephen Lotief said. “Our offensive and defensive line played one of the best games they have played all season and I am really proud of that.”

At the start of the game Kaplan drove down and scored on its second drive, with a Kaylon Rudd seven yard touchdown run.

Tyson Broussard would add a second rushing touchdown onto the scoreboard only minutes later.

That made the score 12-0, after both two point conversions were unsuccessful, at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter is where the Pirate offense really started to shine.

It scored 21 points in the second quarter alone thanks in part to a 13 yard touchdown pass from Devante Davis to Jalen Bates. Along with the touchdown pass, Davis rushed for a two yard touchdown run.

Broussard added his second rushing touchdown with a 21 yard scamper to pay dirt as time expired in the first half.

“Our running game was on tonight,” Broussard said. “We got it going early and it was one of those things that once it started going it couldn’t be stopped.”

Broussard led the way on the ground with a staggering 206 yards rushing on only 22 carries.

His partner in the back field Kaylon Rudd also cracked the century mark with 101 yards rushing on 21 carries.

“Our running game had it going tonight,” Lotief said. “But all the credit goes to the offensive line. With out them we don’t have a rushing game and they played great.”

Even thought the score was 33-0 at half the real back breaker for the Wolverines was the 9:30 drive the Pirates had in the third quarter.

The Pirates ate up most of the third quarter with one drive that ended in a Davis two yard touchdown run.

This is the first time the Kaplan Pirates have won a playoff game since 2010 when they defeated Eunice at home. All of the seniors on the team were freshmen at the time.

“It feels nice to be back and winning in the playoffs again,” Broussard said. “It’s been a while since we have won a playoff game and I hope we can continue to do so. I’m not ready to quit playing football yet.”

The Pirates now have to prepare for a tough Richwood team. Kaplan will be traveling to take on Richwood this coming Friday night.

Richwood is ranked number six in the power rankings.

“We are going to have to get to work,” Lotief said. “We are traveling no matter what, so we need to get to work.”

Written by Andy Bullard, Sports Editor