Kaplan Pirates almost pull off upset over Lutcher

KAPLAN - The Kaplan Pirates almost pulled off the upset over the top seeded Lutcher Bulldogs.
The Pirates were down 13-8 with 1:23 to play in the game. The Pirates were within reach of pulling off the upset.
Kaplan drove down to the Lutcher 23-yard line and was facing third down and 9. Backup quarterback Daniel Lotief threw a floater to a doubled teamed Mac Thibeaux. Unfortunately, a Lutcher played intercepted the football and ended any chance Kaplan had to win the game.
Kaplan head coach Stephen Lotief said, “It was not meant to be. We had an opportunity to beat them, and we did not get it done.”
Lotief thought there should have been an defensive interference call on the pass, but no yellow flag came out.
Lutcher head coach Tim Detillier praised the play of the Pirates. He said it was the best game a Class 3A team gave his team all year.
“I have to take my hat off to Kaplan,” said Detiller. “They played hard. They have nothing to hang their heads about. They took us to the fire. No one in triple A has done what they did to us. I take my hat off them.”
Detiller said his coaches got really worried when Kaplan moved the football as time ticked off the clock. “My defense has stepped up each week. We are going to find a way to win the game thanks to the defense. We did tonight. We did what we had to do to win.”
The Pirates’ offense and defense did not break in the first half. They only gave up 13 points in the first half. Kaplan opened the second half with a trick play, kicking a squib kick that bounced a couple of times and went off a Lutcher player. Kaplan’s Julious Johnson, who is on the kicking team, fell on the football.
The play fired the players and crowd up.
Kaplan marched 48 yards behind the running of Johnson. The Pirates were in the end zone 11 plays later. Johnson scored from the 2. All of sudden it is a different game, because Kaplan was back in it.
The Pirates were the more pumped up team coming out of the locker room to start the second half, despite being down 13-0.
Lotief said he team did not play well in the first half and was only down 13-0.
“We said if that is the best they got, we are going to win the game,” Lotief said. “We went down field and scored. Our defense played well. We had a chance to win.”
Lutcher racked up 352 total yards, compared to Kaplan’s 174 yards.
The Bulldogs rushed for 161 yards and threw for 191 yards.
Lutcher quarterback Jantre Kirklin ran for 97 yards and completed 18 out of 28 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
Al’dontre Davis led with 8 catches for 92 yards and a score.
Johnson, who is a junior, finished with 85 yards on 25 carries. Mac Thibeaux chipped in 64 yards on 16 carries.
Kaplan did not complete a pass all game.