VC knocks off 4A Eunice

By: Rosco Harrington

The No. 2-ranked Vermilion Catholic Eagles defeated the Eunice Bobcats 21-6 at Eagles Stadium Friday night, as the 10 anniversary of the 2003 State Championship in football was celebrated.

Michael Campbell scored two touchdowns on the ground, while racking up 115 yards rushing and Brennan Gallet found a streaking Connor Menard for a 55-yard pitch and catch to propel the Eagles over their 4A opponent.

“They said there was no way we would go undefeated with this schedule,” said VC head coach Russ Kuhns.  “We are 8-0 because we have 54 guys who believe.”

Campbell finished off the Eagles opening drive with a 1-yard race to the edge, giving VC the early 6-0 lead.  Emile Trahan booted the point after with 7:39 remaining in the first quarter.

The score remained 7-0 until Eunice quarterback Alex Richard went 20-yards for the touchdown on third and goal with only 34.6 seconds remaining until halftime.  The extra point sailed wide right, leaving the score 7-6.

The Eagles responded immediately when Gallet hit a streaking Connor Menard for the touchdown with 10 seconds to go in the half.  Trahan’s PAT made the score 14-6.

“We attack because we believe in our players,” offensive coordinator Roch Charpentier said of the Eagles not just taking a knee and going into the locker room.  “We want to give them as many chances as we can to make a play.”

With 9:28 remaining in the final quarter, Campbell scored his second touchdown of the game.  He took in in from 8-yards out to provide the final score.

Both teams struggled throughout the game with penalties and turnovers.  VC intercepted two passes to thwart Eunice drives.  Drake Broussard grabbed the first interception at the Eagles’ 10-yard-line in the first quarter just after Richard had kept it on the option for a 65-yard gain.  

Tyler Derouen grabbed the second at the Eagles’ 11-yard-line with just over a minute to go in the third.  Chris Campbell also had several key pass break ups for VC.

“We miscue a lot,” said Eunice head coach Paul Trosclair.  “We’ve blocked like four punts this season and have not scored off any of them.

Not to be outdone VC fumbled on the Bobcat 1-yard-line, preventing a touchdown, had the punt blocked and had several drives stall inside Eunice territory.

“Our goal is to play mistake-free football,” said Charpentier.  “We haven’t done that yet, but we are playing well enough to win.”

Coach Kuhns already has his eyes on next week and isn’t concerned about the concept of a 1A school beating a 4A school.

“We’re concerned about ourselves getting better,” he said.  We’re concerned about Hanson coming in here next week.”