VC Eagles shoot for 10-0

For most teams the last game of the season is one of the most important games of the season.  

Whether it be because the district title or a playoff spot on the line, for Vermilion Catholic, the very last game of the season is important for a completely different reason. 

An undefeated season is what’s up for grabs on Friday night.

“One of our main goals was to go 10-0,” VC Head Coach Russell Kuhns said. “At the beginning of the season we made a list of goals, and the first one on the board was to finish the season 10-0. So with that goal right there for taking I feel our team should be focused.”

To reach the goal of 10-0 the Eagles are going to have to fight their way through a tough Ascension Episcopal (5-4) team. 

“They have a great head coach,” Kuhns said. “They play really solid football, and can stretch the field and score in a hurry, which is one of our biggest concerns.”

Being able to score in a hurry is something that Ascension is good at. It has put up over 30 points in four of its nine games this season.

Another concern Kuhns had was that in the five like games both VC and Ascension have played, Ascension is 3-2, with one of those losses by only a field goal.

“They are a good team. You can see that they can play with the best of them. It won’t be easy,” Kuhns said.

Ascension is ranked 21st in the power rankings, meaning that they are fighting for a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

With all that’s already on the table for this game, there is an added extra pressure from the fans according to Kuhns.

With VC being ranked number one in the power rankings and on the verge of potentially going 10-0, a trip to the Dome is on the tips of every ones tongue and Kuhns knows it.

“We haven’t made it there yet,” Kuhns said. “We were supposed to make it to the dome last year and the year before that, and look where it got us. 

“So this team sees how hard it is to make it there so hopefully that will keep them focused enough to not look that far in advance.”

If VC is going to go undefeated on the season it is going to need a good game from its stars, and it starts with its work-horse running back Mike Campbell.

Campbell, who is the reigning offensive player of the week, leads not only the team but the parish in rushing yards with 1,162 on only 141 carries – for a staggering 8.2 yards per carry. To add to those already impressive numbers, he has punched it into the end zone 22 times.

Not to be outdone by his backfield teammate, quarterback Brennan Gallet will need to extend his parish leading passing numbers. 

Gallet has 1,834 passing yards, on a 60 percent completion percentage. He has also thrown 20 touchdowns.

Ten of those touchdowns have gone to Connor Menard, who incidentally leads both the team and the parish in receiving yards, with 898, and touchdowns.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Ascension Episcopal.