Historical night in Vermilion Parish tonight with two teams still playing in football playoffs

Tonight is a historical night when it comes to Vermilion Parish High School football.
For the first time since 1995, two parish high school teams will be playing in the third round of the playoffs.
The Vermilion Catholic Eagles (11-0) entertain the St. Mary Rams tonight in Abbeville. Ticket prices are $10 and kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Kaplan Pirates travel to north Louisiana to battle Union Parish, a high school along the Arkansas border. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
It is nothing to have one parish high school team still playing in the third round.
Vermilion Catholic will be playing its third straight third round playoff game.
But to have a second parish team playing, is rare.
Kaplan High is no stranger to going to the third round. It just does not do it too often.
Back in 1985, the Pirates reached and advanced past the third round after whipping Loranger 38-7 behind the running of Francis Touchet.
Touchet had 102 yards rushing on 22 carries. He also scored three touchdowns.
Warren Baker and Ryan Simon also had carries in the game. Jason Morvant was a split end on the team.
On defense, Kaplan was led by Lionel Prudhomme.
Kaplan would lose to the Homer Pelicans in the semifinals, the next week.
Touchet, who now works for the state education department, spoke to the football team in a pep rally Wednesday in downtown Kaplan.
“When you get this far in the playoffs, all teams are equal,” said Touchet. “One thing that separates a winning team and a losing team is turnovers. Another thing. Your opponent will take your best player away. You need other people to step up. My question to you is, who will step up?”
If both teams win tonight, history will continue to be made by having two parish teams in the semifinals.