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The No. 18 Vermilion Catholic Eagles scored early and often en route to a dominating 63-0 victory over the Gueydan Bears on senior night at Eagle Stadium Friday.

On the night the VC community honored its seniors, VC head coach Broc Prejean described his guys as selfless.

“This group represents selflessness,” Prejean said. “Kids like Caleb Guidry, Luke McClain, Will Simon, Wyatt Bertrand, and the rest have been completely selfless football players who do all the little things that make playing this game worth it. We’re going to miss them, but we have quite a few more weeks to enjoy them.”

The Eagles (4-5) have now won two straight games and three of their last four. Prejean is excited about his team’s chances as they head into week 10 on the road against No. 22 Westminster Christian in Lafayette.

“I’ve loved these last few weeks,” Prejean said. “It’s been tough at times this season. We were 2-5 just a couple of weeks ago, but they stayed the course. They kept showing up and believing in getting better, and they absolutely have.”

“Last week showed what we’re capable of (50-15 over No. 14 Opelousas Catholic). Next week’s a big one to possibly get a home game in the playoffs. We’ll go from there, but it starts with Westminster.”

Senior Luke McLain said the Eagles can win in week 10 and make a playoff run if they keep playing their style of football.

“We started slow, trying to figure everything out together,” McLain said. “We were hurting ourselves, and we corrected it. Now we feel we have a strong shot if we keep playing our best. The seniors know what it takes. We have to set the example for the younger guys.”

Prejean said stopping Westminster’s offense will be a tall task for his defense.

“We saw the split-back veer already this year, and we didn’t perform well against it,” Prejean said. “We have to be assignment-oriented and fill the right gaps. They walked the field on us on their opening drive last year. It’s going to be a challenge.”

On their first drive against Gueydan, VC moved 54 yards in three plays. On the second play, McLain ran 35 yards to the Bears’ 10-yard line. He scored on the next play and kicked the extra point, making it 7-0 with 9:33 left in the first quarter.

VC senior quarterback Will Simon’s 17-yard scamper on their next possession made it 14-0 before back-to-back pick-sixes by Kohen Hebert (5 yards) and Jacob Dubois (15 yards) made it 28-0 with 4:50 left in the first. On their next possession, Simon went to the air and found tight end James Bradley for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-0 at the end of one.

Simon struck again on VC’s next possession, hitting Matthew Mollere for a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 42-0 lead. Caleb Guidry made it 49-0 when he ran it in from 11 yards out. Freshman Beckett Brantley made it 56-0 at the half when he scored on a 14-yard run. He also scored the Eagles’ final touchdown of the night when he broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

The Bears nearly scored in the fourth quarter when Braylon Mercier turned the corner and raced 83 yards down to the VC one-yard-line. The Eagle defense stood firm and forced a turnover-on-downs to preserve the shutout.

Brantley led the VC rushing attack with 58 yards and two touchdowns on three carries. McLain was right behind with 45 yards and a touchdown on two carries.

Simon completed all four of his passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a third. Michael Mollere caught two passes for 25 yards to lead the team. Matthew Mollere caught one pass for 23 yards and a score, while Bradley had the 15-yard TD reception.

Mercier led Gueydan with 77 yards rushing on four carries. Mason Smith completed one pass for two yards to Traevin Billiot.

June 20, 1969 ~ November 1, 2025

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Fr. Billy Massie will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Katherine Elizabeth Massie, 56, who passed away on November 1, 2025. A visitation will take place at Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., when the procession departs for the church.
Katherine was born June 20, 1969, to Betty Dore' and Billy Massie, III with a rare genetic disorder called Rett Syndrome. Her 56 years of life were spent dealing with many daily challenges resulting from Retts. Although Katherine was not able to communicate verbally, with bright smiles she spoke to the heart of everyone who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her mother, Betty Dore'; her brothers, Father Billy Massie and Chad Massie; sister-in-law, Tricia Massie; niece and nephew, Caitlyn and Christian Massie; aunt, Susan Crusta; cousin, Virginia Bienvenu; and a step-sister, Morgan Massie.
She was preceded in death by her father, Billy Massie III.
Katherine will be taken to her final resting place, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Lafayette, La. at a later date.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Civitan Group Home/LARC in Lafayette, La., who took exceptional and loving care of Katherine for 38 years, especially Henrietta Grant, Home Manager, Donna, Connie, Blessing, Raven, Melissa, Sedonia, and many others through the years, as well as the outstanding staff of Eastridge Nursing Home and Hope Hospice for the excellent care given to Katherine during her last days.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville (337) 893-4661.

Councilman Francis Plaisance is alarmed by the continued act of shots being fired within the city limits of Abbeville.
Plaisance addressed Chief of Police Mike Hardy during the latter’s comment time during Tuesday’s Abbeville City Council meeting.
“First of all, I think you have the most difficult job in the city,” Plaisance told the chief. “I want to establish that. However, we have a serious, serious crime problem in our city. I know you are aware of that.”
Plaisance, who served on the council from 2006 to ‘22, before returning after a special election earlier this year, said he is concerned that one shot may claim the life of an innocent person.
“We had an elderly lady, 81 years old,” Plaisance said. “A bullet goes through her house and ends up in the headboard. Only because she got up to use the bathroom was she saved. We have bullet holes in houses, and I’m just really concerned that we’re just setting the stage for some bad incident to happen.
“What can we do?”
Hardy said one of the best things that anyone in the community can do is provide information when possible.
“When they see something or hear something,” Hardy said, “report it. The worst thing is to shut your door and forget about it. It’s not going to go away.”
Hardy explained that the department is following up on the incident Plaisance referenced. He said the department is also working closely with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and 15th Judicial District Attorney Don Landry’s office under the reactivated Violent Crimes Task Force.
“We are putting this together to have a foundation to lay it out,” Hardy said of potential cases to be made that would follow arrests. “We want to have something saying that this person was shooting at that person. This person is from another part of town and is shooting at the other guys. Who is connected to whom? Who stands in the middle? Who is gaining by these people shooting every night or every other night?”
Hardy said he shares the feelings of frustration and concern.
“I’m sick and tired of it,” Hardy said, “just like you guys are. I know something needs to be done.”
The chief views numerous options as being on the table. That includes the possibility of a curfew, a move Hardy made in February of 2023 after a shooting at a lounge on the La. Hwy. 14 By-Pass that injured four people.
“We may have to start the curfew again,” Hardy said. “I may not be at 8 p.m., but maybe 10 p.m. Anybody on the streets is going to be stopped. It’s something that we have to consider. We want to do our investigative part first. We want to make sure the sheriff’s office knows what’s going on. When we have extra patrols on the road, and we’re stopping people, everybody understands why.”
Mayor Roslyn White said the city is open to any and all help, whether that comes from local, state or federal agencies, including the Violent Crimes Task Force. White added that a major part of the process is suspects being involved in incidents after previously being arrested in other cases.
“Until we all work together,” White said, “we are never going to get these people off the streets, and put them away with cases that keep them locked up. The chief is now working with the sheriff’s office. I have offered that if he wants to dedicate a detective working with the sheriff’s office (with the task force), we will fund that if he decides to move forward.
“We know that once we catch them, we have to prove the case.”
White said she is open to any other ideas that lead to a solution.
“I think one shot being fired in this city is too many,” White said. “We’re way too small, and there’s no way that no one knows what’s going on.”
White thanked Hardy for working with the sheriff’s office.
“I think they bring a lot of resources to the table,” White said. “It’s not that our department can’t do it, but we need all the help we can get.”
Councilwoman Terry Broussard said she contacted Hardy about one of the shootings.
“I spoke to the lady whose house had bullet holes,” Broussard told the chief on Tuesday. “She commended your officers. She was really pleased with their professionalism and with what they had to do. I know we always hear bad, but I wanted to share some good with you.”
Hardy said those situations serve to strengthen trust between the department and the community, which can help build cases. Hardy said the police respond to crimes and shootings, but the community plays a vital role when it comes to information.
“I have people who may not call our department,” Hardy said, “but they will call me. I give out cards to everyone. You have to get information where you can.”
Hardy said neighborhood watch meetings continue, with the effort seeing increased participation.
“These provide information on how to keep safe if you have a crime in your neighborhood,” Hardy said. “Please call us. We are out there every day.”
Plaisance said he appreciated Tuesday’s discussion. Hopefully, it helps avoid a tragedy, he added.
“If an innocent human being at home in bed gets killed,” Plaisance said, “you will hear an outcry from this council and the public like you have never heard before.”

IT’S CAKE TIME!
Days are temperate. Nights are cool. The oven will not bother anyone, least of all you.
It’s time to gather recipes for cakes to be baked throughout the holidays. Start making samples now.

ADVICE QUADRUPLED

# 1 Grease thoroughly. Spray or grease pan or try cake release. There are many choices. Pound cake pans must be well coated or your beautiful, delicious cake will come out in chunks.

# 2 Measure carefully. Sifting is a sure way to achieve success. But you can just measure your flour into a separate bowl before adding it to recipe. I shake my flour between 2 cups of the size that recipe calls for.

# 3 Don’t overmix. Overmixing leads to a heavy or rubbery cake.
# 4 Keep it moist is the Golden Rule. An unwelcomed, dry cake is more often caused by over baking. The cake will keep baking until it is no longer piping hot. Bake only until cake springs back when patted lightly and a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean. I bought a pack of 3 metal testers lately. A tester is a perfect tool for its job and a good addition to your baking supplies.

TWO STEP POUND CAKE

A perfectly baked cake is heavenly.
And it can be so easily done.

Step # 1 Gather ingredients and mix.

Step # 2 Pour into pan and bake.

INGREDIENTS

-4 cups flour
-3 cups sugar
-2 cups unsalted butter, softened
-3/4 cup milk
-6 large eggs
-2 tsp almond flavoring or 2 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp of each

MISE EN PLACE

-Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
-Spray pan well with regular cooking spray and flour or cake releaser.*
-Layer ingredients in this order: flour, then sugar, butter, milk, eggs,and flavoring (in that order) into a large bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer.
-Beat at low speed for 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides.
-Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
-Pour into greased pan and smooth the top.
-Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
-Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.
-Remove cake from pan onto the wire rack.
-Let cool for about 1 hour.

*The name brand Cake Release almost guarantees you a winner especially when dealing with pound cake in the tube pan. With just almond flavoring, this cake is perfection, one of my favorites.

EASY CAJUN CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

Pecans make anything good.
Cajun dishes are usually good also.

INGREDIENTS

-1 cup sugar
-1/2 cup flour
-1/2 cup unsalted butter*
-1 cup pecans
-1 cup chocolate chips
-2 eggs, lightly beaten
-1 unbaked deep-dish pie crust

MISE EN PLACE

-Place raw pie crust into 9” pie pan.
-Mix ingredients well in a large bowl.
-Pour into unbaked pie crust
-Bake for 50 minutes.

*I always bake with whatever butter is in the fridge. There’s not enough butter in the amount asked for in the recipe to affect the results.

ALMOST CAJUN CHOCO/PECAN PIE

Very close to previous recipe
Corn syrup provides distinctive flavor
Has pecans so is good

INGREDIENTS

-2 (1/2 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate (baker’s chocolate 100% cacao*)
-2 tbsp butter
-3 large eggs
-1/2 cup sugar
-3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3/4 cup pecan halves
-1 (9 inch) uncooked pie crust

MISE EN PLACE

-Place raw pie crust in 9” pie pan.
-Melt chocolate and butter together in saucepan over low heat.
-Stir until smooth.
-Beat together eggs, sugar, chocolate mixture, and corn syrup.
-Add pecan halves.
-Mix until all ingredients blended.
-Pour into pie crust.
-Bake until just set, about 40 to 50 minutes.

Cacao is the unprocessed version of the cocoa bean. Cocoa is pressed at high temperatures, which reduces nutrient content but creates a milder, sweeter taste than cacao.

ON BEING CAJUN

Being Cajun had been on my mind the last few weeks, and I have a story that never leaves my mind.
Several years ago, at Boo’s Nichols’ Agri-Business gathering, I was introduced by a fellow classmate of his (from Raceland) as “Boo’s wife. She has the worst Cajun accent in the world.” Worst! I was mortified! I consider my Cajun accent “pronounced,” and I would have walked away without a second thought without “worst” as the adjective. For a brief amount of time I allowed this one word to identify myself. I was considering a career change and thought that elocution classes would polish my “accent” before starting again in the job market. When I shared this with my dear friend, Beth Hebert, she told me in her calm and caring voice that it would be a huge mistake. She suggested that if I really wanted a change I should consider the Louisiana tourist industry, where my accent would be a plus. I finally realized that a prominent Cajun accent can be an asset. In this column, my accent is nonexistent, as only my Cajun colloquialisms give me away.

Jusqu’a la semaine prochaine!

billielandry@iosinces.com