Kaplan dominates Northwest 44-27

Kaplan outscored Northwest 22-6 in the second half to defeat Northwest 44-27 and advance to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Kaplan held a 22-21 advantage at halftime, but the defense stepped up in the second half to hold down the Raiders.
“In the second half, we started playing fundamentally sound,” said Kaplan head coach Stephen “Tank” Lotief. “We started playing team football instead of individual football and we did a great job like I thought we were capable of doing.”
The Pirates received the ball first, and had a five-minute drive capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by Julius Johnson.
A 2-point conversion run by Johnson put the Pirates up 8-0.
One minute later, the Raiders got on the board with a 41-yard score by sophomore running back Matthew Rideau to cut Kaplan’s lead to one point.
On Kaplan’s next drive, the Pirates sustained an eight minute drive that resulted in a touchdown on a 2-yard pass from Jade Herpin to Grant Frick. Another successful conversion gave Kaplan a 16-7 advantage.
Northwest quarterback Chris Lee responded with a keeper straight up the middle for 38 yards and a score to cut their deficit to three points at 16-13.
Herpin found tight end Kerry Kass for a 9-yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining before halftime.
Nineteen seconds was just enough time for Lee to connect on a 67-yard bomb to Mathew Guillory for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion sent Kaplan into the locker room with a 22-21 lead at halftime.
Northwest started the second half with the ball, but a costly fumble on the exchange between the center and Lee forced a fumble, and Kass recovered it at the Raider 38-yard line.
“As a coach, that is my fault,” said Northwest head coach Chris Edwards. “In this weather, I should have had the center out here snapping and getting ready.”
Kaplan cashed in a few plays later on a 10-yard run by Frick to give Kaplan a 30-21 lead.
The Raiders next possession ended in turmoil, as Lee was sacked at his own 23 on fourth down by Arizona State commit Jalen Bates.
Johnson scored from three yards out a few plays later to give Kaplan a 17-point cushion.
The Kaplan offense rushed for 331 yards, and Johnson ended his night with 180 yards rushing on 38 carries with two scores.
“We talked about needing one stop,” said Lotief. “They put it on the ground, and our offense stuffed it in.”
Northwest scored their only points of the second half on a 3-yard pass from Lee to Guillory with a little over seven minutes left in the game.
Frick completely put the game out of reach on a 15-yard touchdown run with 2:35 left in the game.
Frick finished the game with 101 yards and two scores on 16 carries.
Herpin threw for 40 yards and two scores with four completions.
Defensively, the Pirates held 1,700 yard rusher Chris lee to only 58 yards rushing.
Kaplan played nearly mistake-free football with no turnovers, and only one penalty for five yards.
“My team performed well,” said Edwards. “I’m disappointed in the loss, but our guys fought hard. Give all the credit to them (Kaplan) they are moving on, and they deserve it.”
Northwest season ends, but Kaplan has a rematch with Union Parish who defeated the Pirates in the quarterfinals last season.
The Pirates will have to travel to Farmerville to face the Farmers.