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It looked like it would be known as “wide right on the bayou” that got the Vermilion Catholic Eagles back into the Louisiana Superdome. Instead, it will be known as the “heartbreaking kick” that prevented the Eagles from going to the finals of the Division IV playoffs.
Ninety four seconds before the game ended, LCA kicker Collin Woodson missed right the extra point that would have tied the game 28-28 and possibly send the game into overtime.
Instead, VC held on to a one-point, 28-27 lead with just over 90 seconds to play. All VC had to do was get a first down or two and run the clock out. Instead, they ran four plays and took less than 30 seconds off the clocks thanks to LCA calling three timeouts in a row.
LCA got the ball back with 1:05 to play in the game and were 65 yards away from paydirt.
The Knights drove the ball to the VC 20-yard-line with only 10 seconds left in the game.Woodson did not miss this time. He nailed a 37-yard field goal through the uprights and gave the Knights a 30-28 victory and a trip to the Louisiana Superdome.
VC head coach Brady Thomas saw the long kick sail through the uprights.
“My heart sunk for these kids,” said Thomas. “I know the amount of work they put in and having to go against the odds week and week out.”
LCA did not do anything fancy on offense, They just pounded big running back Logan Gabriel, who carried it 34 times and rushed for 222 yards, down the middle. He averaged 4 yards a carry.
The Knights opened the second half by marching 57 yards in nine plays to tie the game, 21-21.
The Eagles’ offense stalled twice in the third period and they had two punt twice.
They finally put together a drive in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. They drove 55 yards on the arm of senior JT Lege. JT threw a 28-yard pass to Ethan Lege and then two plays later, JT found Kris Constantine a 29-yard reception.
Two big pass plays moved the football down to the LCA 11-yard-line. It took three plays to score, when JT found Garrett Wiggins by himself in the end zone.
That put the Eagles ahead 28-21 with 10 minutes to play in the game.
LCA outscored VC 9-0 in the final 90 seconds of the game.
On the night, LCA had more yards, 404 yards to VC’s 326 yards.
JT threw for 257 yards. He completed 19 out of 36 passes and three touchdowns.
Ethan had eight catches for 130 yards. Constantine had six receptions for 85 yards. Two of catches were for TDs.
LCA, the No. 4 seed, will battle No. 6 seed Ascension Catholic in the finals.
“We did not lose the game, LCA just won the game,” said Thomas. “They played a great game.”

VIDRINE — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain wrapped up an agriculture and forestry listening tour at Richard and Neal Fontenot’s R&N Farms in the Evangeline Parish community of Vidrine on Nov. 17.
Farmers expressed their concerns about infrastructure needs, red tape involved with obtaining foreign labor, sales taxes on farm supplies and equipment, high electricity rates and funding for LSU AgCenter research facilities.
At the gathering, Strain said Iraq will be buying a large amount of American rice. The purchase is for 90,000 tons, most of which will come from south Louisiana, said Jackie Loewer, an Acadia Parish rice farmer and chairman of the Louisiana Rice Producers’ Group.
“It’s a big deal for the rice industry,” Loewer said.
Edwards said the state must invest in infrastructure, especially ports, to help farmers sell their crops.
Farmer John Owen, of Rayville, said facilities at the Port of Lake Charles are only able to load bulk rough, or unmilled, rice onto ships. Standards for shipping milled rice are higher to prevent contamination from any other material, he said, adding that a facility for handling bulk milled rice would increase opportunities for producers.
Owen also said farmers would benefit if Louisiana ports stayed open continuously, even in periods of low water.
Edwards said he is aware of the Lake Charles port situation.
“We’re looking at that right now and talking to various people in the rice industry,” he said.
Alan Lawson, a farmer in Crowley, said the current guest labor program is cumbersome and inflexible.
Strain said the program is crucial for Louisiana farmers because they often cannot find local workers. He said Louisiana uses more H2A and H2B workers than any other state per capita.
But dealing with the program’s rules and regulations is a “pain in the neck,” the commissioner said.
Edwards said the labor issue has been a frequent source of complaints.
“This is something we’ve heard about at every stop — about labor,” he said.
Farmer Donald Berken, of Iowa, asked about tax exemptions on farm equipment. The governor said sales tax exemptions for agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer, chemicals and farm equipment are a priority.
“We’re going to maintain those exemptions for agriculture,” Edwards said.
Loewer also raised the issue of funding for AgCenter research.
Strain described the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley as the pre-eminent rice research facility in the world.
Edwards said the AgCenter cannot draw from tuition funds because it has no students. He said funding has to be secured for the AgCenter “if our research centers are going to be what we want them to be.”
Strain said talks are underway to resume a beef check-off program to fund beef cattle research.
Indian Bayou farmer Christian Richard said the agriculture industry is hit with high electricity bills because of demand charges based on the highest daily electricity usage. He said neighboring states have laws that curb the amount of demand charges.
Richard Fontenot said farmers in Arkansas, unlike those in Louisiana, don’t pay taxes on utilities used in agricultural production.
Edwards said his office will explore legislative options to address that problem. Fontenot said a group of farmers is talking with the state Public Service Commission about demand charges, and AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto is preparing information for the talks.
Strain also told the gathering that $150,000 has been allocated for rice promotion. The funds will come from proceeds of slot machines at racetracks.
Edwards and Strain held the series of listening sessions with farmers across the state starting Nov. 14. After the visit to R&N Farms, Edwards met other agricultural producers for lunch at the Joey Olivier farm near Arnaudville. Earlier tour stops included Mooringsport, Bastrop, Ferriday and Slaughter.

ABBEVILLE — A Home-going Celebration will be held for Brandon Jamar Boudreaux 39, at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 25, 2017 at Macedonia Baptist Church with Rev. E.J. Guidry, officiating.
He will await the resurrection in Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church Cemetery.
A gathering of family and friends will begin at 8:00 A.M. Saturday at the church until time of service.
A native and resident of Abbeville, LA, he passed at 12:40 P.M. Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana following a lengthy illness.
He was a 1996 graduate of Abbeville High School in Abbeville, Louisiana as well as an avid sports fan.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his parents, Larry Boudreaux and Denise Guidry Boudreaux of Abbeville, LA; two brothers, James J. Boudreaux and James J. Darby of Abbeville, LA; maternal grandmother, Dorothy Hooper of Abbeville, LA; three nieces, Ja”Quanda Boudreaux, Jaydence Boudreaux and Regan Boudreaux; maternal uncles, Exalton Guidry, Jr. , Lawrence Huntly, Carl Huntly and Darnell Huntly all of Abbeville, LA; maternal aunts, Mary Louise Huntly of Abbeville, LA and Faye Broussard Benjamin of Houston, TX; maternal great-aunts, Zemma Petry of Abbeville, LA and Helen Broussard of Houston, TX; paternal uncles, Chris (Linda) Landry, Ivory Peters and Percy Landry; one paternal aunt, Cynthia (John) Comeaux as well other relatives, friends, and classmates.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Exalton Guidry, Sr.; paternal grandparents, Louella Landry and Paul Boudreaux; one uncle, Allen Wade Huntly, and his godparents, Godard Shelvin and Hattie Captville.
Active pallbearers will be Kendall Landry, Kelly Coleman, Marlon Guidry, Ruben Collins, Shannon Peters, and Ulysses Shelvin.
Honorary pallbearers will be James Boudreaux, James Darby, Harry Hooper, Chris Landry, Ivory Peters and Carol Benjamin.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home 1116 Green Street Abbeville, Louisiana 70510.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org.

April 21, 1948 ~ November 20, 2017

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Luddy Paul Herpin, 69, who passed away on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Lafayette General Medical Center. He will be laid to rest at Cossinade Cemetery with Reverend Nicholas DuPre’ officiating the services.
Luddy was a 1966 graduate of Kaplan High School and attended McNeese State University where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He was an educator at Kaplan High School for seven years and Rene Rost Middle School for five years. He was also the assistant principal and later became the principal for Gueydan High School. He participated in the farming industry and served on the Vermilion Parish School Board. Luddy had many accomplishments in life which include, Kaplan Citizen of the Year, Gueydan Duck Festival Honoree, founder and advisor of the Kaplan Key Club and Keyettes, and was voted Principal of the Year for four years.
Luddy never met a stranger, he enjoyed talking with people of all walks of life. Sharing stories and reminiscing of the old days. His greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was so proud of the family that he and his beloved wife Shirley reared.
‘I chose to teach because I feel that we can make a difference in the lives of young people’ is what he did throughout his life by impacting the lives of so many people that he knew and loved. Luddy’s humor and generous heart will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Shirley Guidry Herpin of Kaplan; four children, Scott Herpin of Kaplan, Shamayne and her husband, Keith Istre of Maurice, Shay Herpin and his wife, Aimee of Kaplan, and Shana and her husband, Scott Broussard of Kaplan; six grandchildren, Skyla and Mitchell Herpin, Sara Corinne and Kylie Istre, and Gabe and Grayson Broussard; two brothers, Carlton Herpin and his wife, Glenda and Luther Herpin and his wife, Karen “KK”, all of Kaplan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph T. “Gabie” Herpin and the former Neva Broussard; one sister, Carol Herpin; and one granddaughter, Amelia Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Herpin family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.