Showdown in Erath ends with Kaplan victorious

In a 47-39 shootout, the Kaplan Pirates defeated parish and district rival Erath on their own turf Friday night.

The first half was a back-and-forth between the two schools, with Kaplan getting on the board first as they hold Erath to a three-and-out, get the punt, and begin the slow drive up the field. DeVante Davis, at quarterback, would throw the ball to Kerry Kass for a 14 yard touchdown. Scott Russo kicked the extra point.

Two drives later, Tyson Broussard broke away for a 58-yard touchdown to bring the Pirates up 14-0. 

In the next drive, however, Ty Bares would run the ball 26 yards for a touchdown. The following score would also go to Erath, who blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone, tying the game 14-14. Right before halftime, Davis would connect with Kass again for another touchdown, making the score 20-14.

The two schools exchanged a series of touchdowns in the second half. Kaplan came out first and drove it down the field to double Erath’s score, 28-14. Erath then answered with a three point kick from Cullen Romero. 

Broussard scored his third touchdown of the night for Kaplan on an 8-yard run. Elijah Mitchell, in turn, scored for Erath.

The back-and-forth was interrupted by a third-down stop by Erath’s defense, forcing the Pirates to punt. Erath handed the ball to Mitchell again, but he was stripped of it and Kaplan turned it around for another touchdown, making the score 41-24.

Erath scored again, and then forced a turnover out of Kaplan’s hands. Ben Leblanc, who had taken over quarterback duties for Bares (leg injury), scored on a 4-yard run.

Erath would go for one last shot, kicking the onside, but Kaplan recovered and would take the knee the following play to end the game.

Both teams saw a lot of injuries Friday night. Bares’ injury had him on ice and crutches for the remainder of the game.

Meanwhile, Laine Broussard of Kaplan was taken out of the game after he got hurt. The physical game took its toll on both teams.

Kaplan returns home next week to face Abbeville High, who fell on Friday night to Notre Dame. Erath will travel to face West St. Mary, who is fresh off a narrow loss to North Vermilion.