Next up, Delhi Charter

The No. 2 Vermilion Catholic Eagles, for the second straight week, will be called on to stop a team who likes to run the football.
The No. 25 Delhi Charter Gators (8-3) have rushed for 2,849 yards through 11 games out of the I-Formation. That averages out to 260 yards a game rushing. In 11 games, they have only passed the football for 326 yards or about 30 yards a game.
It’s not uncommon for VC to throw for that many yards in one game.
The two teams meet tonight in the second round of the Division IV playoffs. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Eagle Stadium.
Delhi traveled four hours from north Louisiana. The school is no stranger to traveling south. Last year, in the first round, they went to Morgan City to play Central Catholic, a game they almost won, 12-8.
The winner of tonight’s game plays the winner of the Central Catholic/Southern Lab winner.
If VC wins and Central Catholic wins, the VC Eagles will play home next Friday. If Southern Lab upsets Central Catholic and VC wins, VC is on the road next Friday.
But first, the Eagles have to get past the Gators.
The Gators nipped Westminster 19-14 in the first round. They moved the football on the ground behind the running of Kaleb Offord. Offord, in the playoff win, had his best game of the season with 95 yards rushing on 16 carries. He enters tonight’s game with 553 yards rushing on 75 carries. He has scored six times.
The horse for the Gators all season has been Kemo Wilford (5-8, 190, Sr.). Wilford has rushed for 695 yards on 99 carries. He is averaging 7 yards a carry.
The Gators have four other players who have rushed for around 220 yards through 11 games.
One of those players is sophomore quarterback Mason Hale. Hale, a 6-1, 160 pound senior, has rushed for 203 yards this year. He averages only five carries a game.
Gator head coach Brett Raley has watched film on the Eagles.
“I don’t know too many Class 5A schools who throw like Vermilion Catholic,” said Raley. “They have four receivers who can make all-state in any class. They just go up there and snatch the football out of the air.”
Like every team VC has played, the opposing head coach is always worried about stopping the Eagles passing game. Raley is not exception.
“They are good,” said Raley.
The Eagles average just over 310 yards in the air behind the arm of two-year starter Hunter Frith. Frith leads Class A with 3,206 yards passing.
He has four targets to select from who Raley is well aware of.
VC’s Tyler Derouen has the most receptions with 48 for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Devren Constantine has 32 receptions for for 694 yards.
Emile Trahan, a three year starter, has 28 catches for 631 yards.
Expected to miss tonight’s game is receiver Payton Trahan (37-551, 6 TDs) due to illness.
When the Eagles are not throwing, they are running. Kalix Broussard, a freshman, leads the team in rushing (88-458 yards, 7 TDs).
Derouen also has rushed for 48 times for 353 yards and six TDs.