Former VC coach, Charlie Cryer, is returning to the sidelines at Vermilion Catholic

When the Division IV High School Playoff Brackets were released three weeks ago, everyone saw the possible matchup - Vermilion Catholic vs. St. Mary in the third round.
What is so special about St. Mary playing VC?
St. Mary is coached by Charlie Cryer, the former VC head coach who coached the Eagles to the Class 1A state title ten years ago.
Cryer was the head coach at VC when the Eagles won their only football state title. Not long after the Eagles won, Cryer was dismissed from the school because of transcript issues.
Five years ago he was hired at St. Mary located in Nachitoches and has coached the Rams to the playoffs three straight years.
On Friday, Cryer will be back on the VC side lines, just on the opposite side of the football field.
St. Mary beat Covenant Christian 34-13 in the second round to set up Friday’s matchup.
After the win, Cryer’s phone began ringing from friends from VC.
“I have heard from a lot of people,” said Cryer. “I know they had a reunion for the state championship team a few weeks ago but I could not make it because of Friday night football. It looks like I will get to go back to VC after all and see a bunch of my old friends.
“I have always loved Abbeville. It is a special place for me.”
Cryer has since been to Abbeville to watch one of his sons play baseball during the summer. He came three years ago.
Speaking of his family, they are all grown up now.
Cryer is still married to Christie, his wife of 29 years. His daughter, Kaisie, is 27 years old and is an assistant coach at McNeese State.
Cody, his oldest son, is 24 years old and was recently accepted into chiropractor school.
Chris, who was ball boy with Jansen Trahan when VC won state, is now 6-foot, five inches tall and weighs 240 pounds. As a sophomore, he plays defense on the Northwestern University football team in Natchitoches.
Cryer said his St. Mary team is well aware of the fact they are coming to Abbeville, a place where their head coach won a state title. In his St. Mary office, Cryer said, he has pictures of the VC state title team, and a picture of the scoreboard showing the 10-6 win over Kentwood.
“When the (VC) season started, I did not know we had a state championship team ,” he said. “We started the year 2-2 with losses to Erath and North Vermilion.”
Can he work his magic again with St. Mary, a team that has won five in a row? Cryer is confident in St. Mary, who starts six sophomores on defense. St. Mary is the fourth smallest Class A football playing school with 110 students (9th through 12th grade).
“I’m excited to be coming back to Abbeville. VC has a great program,” Cryer said.