RSS Feed

The second half of the season starts this week for the Vermilion Catholic Eagles, and winning a district title still means a lot to the program in an age of expanded playoffs with separate select and non-select divisions.
VC plays the first of six straight District 7-A games at home on Friday, taking on the Highland Baptist Bears.
“We’re going into our second half of the season with district games from here on out, and that’s important to us,” Vermilion Catholic head coach Broc Prejean said. “We want to try to defend our title as district champs, and that starts with Highland, and it’s just going to continue to be that same monotonous message of play complimentary football. Three phases have to pick each other up, and all three phases have to know what they’re doing. When we do that, we’ve proven that we can play some quality football.”
Prejean said that as long as there are districts in the state, coaches want to make sure their teams stay at the top of their districts.
“It’s a big thing for our kids,” he said. “We value it immensely. It’s something that we talk about. When the playoffs get here, the playoffs get here. But right now our attention is on winning a district title, and that’s what we’re going to focus on.”
Prejean said the Bears’ 0-4 record isn’t great right now, but coach Rick Hutson will put his team in position to be competitive, and the Eagles will have to show up and execute, he said.
“Coach Hutson does a great job,” Prejean said. “I’ve known Coach Hutson for a while now. I believe he told me this is his 40th year coaching, so you’ve got a whole lot of experience on that sideline.”
The Eagles held a powerful Erath offense to two first-half touchdowns in a 38-14 win.
Prejean said the entire defense did a great job.
“Credit to the coaching staff for putting together a great gameplan, and even more credit to the kids for executing that gameplan,” Prejean said. “The first quarter was tough. The first half was tough, with the rain starting in the second quarter. But our guys didn’t flinch, and they continued to trust what we’re asking them to do, so we were able to pull away late. It was a big win, a great win, against a really formidable team in the Bobcats, and we’re really pleased with it.”
Prejean said defensive coordinator Brett Blakey and the defensive coaches did a good job of adjusting to what Erath was doing.
“I think it was the most complete defensive performance we’ve had this year,” Prejean said.
On offense, quarterback Jonathan Dartez did a good job of taking what was there.
“I thought Tyjh (Williams) got rolling again, and that’s a credit to our offensive line and wide receivers blocking,” Prejean said. “And we made some big catches when we had to, so we’re playing a little more like we want to play. We’re spreading the ball around and being a little more of a spread team.”
The offensive line’s play has been marked by that group focusing on its mission.
“They’re playing really, really strong assignment football,” Prejean said. “That’s the tough thing when you have an inexperienced group is are they going to have the answers to the test when people start changing things around in front of them, and we’ve been very pleased with how well they’ve been able to make their own adjustments in game. At that point we just ask them to execute as hard as they can, and we really have no complaints so far.”
The Eagles will mark the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Mt. Carmel “Iron Dozen” football team, along with the 1954 Mt. Carmel team, and will honor members of the 2003 and 2013 Vermilion Catholic state championship football teams on the 20th and 10th anniversaries of those titles, respectively.
“I’m super excited about our kids getting the opportunity to see the legacies and traditions of former teams that have done some pretty special things,” Prejean said. “Starting with the first team in ’53 and ’54, to the 2003 and 2013 state champions. Those things happen as a product of work and sacrifice and years of kids building themselves to that point, so we’re definitely going to make sure our young men take note of that.”

Each year Dozier Elementary randomly chooses one boy and one girl from the first-grade class to represent DES as the Erath High Homecoming Crown Bearer and Flower Girl. Recently, a drawing took place with the entire first-grade.
Dozier Elementary is proud to announce the 2023 Erath High Homecoming Crown Bearer and Flower Girl are Evan Thibodeaux and Oakleigh Falgout! These students will represent Dozier Elementary at the EHS Homecoming game on Friday, September 29, 2023!
Oakleigh is the daughter of Dillon and Jindi Falgout and Evan is the son of Micah and Amy Thibodeaux.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Morgan City man for an alleged alligator hunting violation on Sept. 17 in Vermilion Parish.
Agents cited Clifford Roberts, 58, for taking an alligator from an unapproved area.
Agents received a tip about Roberts taking an alligator from an unapproved area just north of Gueydan on Sept. 15. Agents met up with Roberts on Sept. 17 and he allegedly admitted to taking the over 10-foot alligator from the unapproved area. Roberts had an alligator tag for an approved property and put that tag on the alligator.
Agents seized the alligator hide.
Taking an alligator from an unapproved area brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.
Agents participating in the case are Lt. David Sanford, Corporal Derek Logan, Corporal Lucas Hidalgo and Agent Rebecca Bercegeay.

Jeff Landry was born and raised in St. Martinville, LA, received a BS degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in environmental and sustainable resources, with a minor in biology. He earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
He served eleven years in the Louisiana National Guard and was discharged at the rank of sergeant. Over his decade-plus years of service, Jeff became a decorated veteran of Desert Storm. He also received the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, a National Defense Ribbon, and the Louisiana War Cross.
Jeff returned home after he fulfilled his commitment to our country and worked through college by continuing to serve others as a local police officer and sheriff’s deputy.
After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he started his own oil and gas environmental service company. He also served as the executive director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority. During this time, Jeff heard from many local job creators that over-regulation from burdensome government officials imposes hefty costs upon small businesses across Louisiana.
Jeff then ran for and won a seat in the United States Congress. As a Congressman, Jeff Landry stood up for what we believe in and was named one of the top five most conservative members of Congress. Still, Jeff also cast more bi-partisan votes than any other member from Louisiana at that time because Jeff will always do what’s right – not what’s politically popular. During his tenure in Congress, Landry was known as an advocate for the Oil and Gas industry.
As Louisiana’s Attorney General for the past eight years Jeff has worked tirelessly to stem the opioid crisis, prosecute welfare fraud, restructure and reform the Department of Justice and protect your Constitutional rights and successfully prosecute dangerous criminals that harm the good people of Louisiana’s quality of life.
Jeff has received the endorsements of the Louisiana’s Republican Party, the National Rifle Association, the Oil & Gas Workers Association and several Louisiana district attorneys and Louisiana sheriffs.
Jeff has continuously supported law enforcement and is a strong advocate of a fair judicial system. He is passionate about upholding the rule of law and protecting and preserving our constitutional rights. Jeff will be the law-and-order Governor that Louisiana desperately needs.
He is a fearless advocate for the Constitution and a champion for the Louisiana he loves.
With Jeff Landry as governor and a more business-friendly climate, Louisiana oil and gas jobs will power the nation and fuel the world.
We urge Louisiana voters to choose Jeff Landry as our next Governor.

LSN
Editorials represent the opinions of this newspaper, and not of any one individual.