Abbeville High looking for respect against Kaplan

Despite beating the Abbeville Wildcats 10 years in a row, Kaplan Pirate Head Football Coach Stephen Lotief is not taking tonight’s matchup for granted.
The parish teams, who have been playing each other since the 1960s, open the 2015 season againt each other. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium in Kaplan.
The winner of the game bring back to its the Peter Russo Trophy.
In the last two years the Pirates have been able to man handle the Wildcats during a district contest. Abbeville has also posted a 1-19 record under former AHS head coach Chris Towery.
About five weeks ago, AHS hired long-time coach Gary Adkins.
Adkins seems to have the Wildcats turning in a different direction. Abbeville, with the help of big plays, beat North Vermilion 21-6 in the parish jamboree.
Adkins is expected to be at tonight’s game but he will be on the sidelines. He learned earlier this week that he has cancer in a thyroid gland in his neck. He will do more tests this morning to see if the cancer is anywhere else.
Lotief and his coaching staff watched the jamboree game from one side of the end zone. The Kaplan coach was not surprised by how well the Wildcats played because he knows how well of a coach is Adkins.
“They (Abbeville) looked hungry,” said Lotief. “They look a lot better. Coach Adkins is a good coach. He knows what he is doing.”
Throughout the week Lotief has preached to his playesr not to take Abbeville for granted because they are a better team than in year’s past.
“We can not overlook anyone,” Lotief said. “You better anyone who comes into Kaplan, especially when you are supposed to be the favorite. There will be a bulls-eye on our back.”
The Wildcats are solid on defense and offense, they can score quick if they need to.
In the opening drive of the jamboree, Abbeville marched down field and scored on NVHS. The Wildcats defense held NV in check for the first half.
Then in the second half, Abbeville scored on big plays. Quarterback Darcus Collins hit a wide open Jose Pedroza on a 69-yard touchdown reception.
Later in the second half, Pedroza scooted 62 yards for a touchdown.
Also expected to be the backfield tonight will be Kavon Brown and Matt Johnson for Abbeville.
“Abbeville’s offense can score anytime they touch the football,” Lotief said. “Their defense was swarming and special teams even looked well. They did what needed to be done. When you score 21 points in a jamboree on big plays, that says a lot.”
Don’t look for the Pirates to under estimate any team, especially Abbeville.
Abbeville will have its hands full trying to stop Kaplan’s one-two punch of running backs junior Julius Jones and senior Grant Frick. The two combined to rush for just over 2,700 yards and more than 20 touchdowns last year.
Jade Herpin will start at quarterback for the Pirates after missing the jamboree with an injured hand.