VC holds off Erath comeback

The Vermilion Catholic Eagles hung on to beat the Erath Bobcats 35-30 Friday in a shoot out.
The way the first half looked, it looked like the Eagles had the game in control and were en route to blow out Erath, leading 21-7.
The Eagles had outgained the Bobcats 272 yards to 112 in the first half. It looked like the blow out continued when VC scored at the 6:28 mark in the third period to lead 28-7.
“I am proud of the way our team hung in there and fought back,” said EHS head coach David Comeaux. “We just ran out of time. We started playing well late in the second quarter. Despite making mistakes, our guys played their hearts out.”
The Bobcats began chipping away at the VC lead late in the third period, scoring on Erath quarterback’s Ben LeBlanc 16-yard TD pass to Scott Moore. Hunter Touchet nailed the extra point to trim VC’s lead to 28-13.
The Eagles looked like they were going to answer as they marched down field behind the passing of Hunter Frith. Frith had four passes on the drive that covered over 50 total yards.
But then he had one mistake throw he wished he could get back. On Erath’s 17-yard line, he threw a floater that was picked off by defensive back Zach Broussard.
Broussard ran the interception back to the VC 35 yard line. He was dragged down by Frith.
“On that play, I made the wrong read and hesitated,” said Frith. “It slipped out of my hands when I threw it.”
That interception sparked the Bobcats. Erath took only three plays to punch it into the end zone. LeBlanc ran on two of the three plays, including a 12 yard TD run.
Touchet nailed the extra point and all of a sudden, Erath is down only 28-20.
The Eagles did not panic. They went 75 yards in four plays for another score.
Tyler Derouen had a 52-yard reception for VC on the drive. Derouen finished the night with 14 carries for 84 yards. He also had eight receptions for 111 yards and 1 TD.
VC had a safety on a bad punt snap with 3:27 to play in the game.
Now only down, 35-22, Erath thought it got the break is finally needed when Elijah Mitchell looked to have run back the safety punt 60 yards for a touchdown for Erath, however, it was called back, because of a penalty.
Erath eventually scored but it took two minutes off the clock. LeBlanc ran from 1 yard out to make it a 35-30 game with 1:39 to play.
VC ran out the clock to end the game.
Campbell scored twice for VC and had 42 yards on nine carries.
Throwing the football, Frith completed an impressive 23 out of 30 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
For Erath, quarterback Ben LeBlanc completed six passes for 86 yards and two TDs.
Elijah Mitchell rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries.
Erath is at home against Franklin Friday, while VC opens district on the road against Lafayette Christian (2-1).