Five Vermilion Parish football teams make the playoffs

With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, five Vermilion Parish teams are moving on to the postseason.
The Abbeville Wildcats, Delcambre Panthers, Erath Bobcats, Kaplan Pirates, and Vermilion Catholic Screamin’ Eagles will all be in action when the LHSAA playoffs begin on Friday.
The Erath Bobcats secured the highest seed in the Division III Non-Select bracket, achieving a perfect 10-0 record during the regular season. They are set to host No. 28 Bogalusa in the first round of the playoffs. The winner of this matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between No. 12 Union Parish and No. 21 Rayville.
Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc watched film on Bogulsa.
“They may have one win, but they have athletes,” said LeBlanc.  “Their schedule was tough. They played three 5A teams.”
Coach LeBlanc told his team that going 10-0 is behind them, and that each playoff team is now 0-0.
“We are going to take it one game at a time,” he said.

The No. 20 Pirates (6-4) are also in the Division III Non-Select bracket. They will travel to face No. 13 Pine High. The winner of that match-up will take on No. 4 Kinder, which has a bye in the first round.
“The kids believe,” said Kaplan head coach John Thompson. “They believe every game they can win.
Pine (7-3) is not afraid to score points. In their wins, they have scored 64, 55, 44, 48, and 37 points.
“They can score,” said Thomson. “We have to do our best and keep their offense off the field.”
Abbeville will make its return to the playoffs after missing last year. They are part of the Division II Non-Select bracket. The No. 26 Wildcats (4-6) will be on the road against No. Franklin Parish. The winner moves on to the second round against the winner of No. 10 Lutcher and No. 23 Iota.
The Panthers are the No. 26 seed in the Division IV Non-Select playoffs. Delcambre will hit the road to square off with No. 7 East Feliciana. Awaiting the winner in the second round is the winner of No. 10 Ferriday and No. 23 Northeast.
Vermilion Catholic, the reigning champions, is the No. 22 seed in the Division IV Select bracket. The Eagles will travel to face No. 11 Kentwood, a team they beat during last year’s run to a title. 
A win would set up a rematch with district rival Ascension Episcopal, the No. 6 seed, which has a bye.