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ERATH—After the tough 28-7 playoff defeat to the Loreaville Tigers on Friday, Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc sought out every senior on the field to express his love for them. He found 14 seniors chatting with friends and family and gave each one a hug.
“I tell them I love them because they put a lot into this program,” said LeBlanc.  “Many have been here four years. I tell them how much they mean to the program.”
Despite whether they were dressed in a football uniform or nursing an injury, LeBlanc managed to find each senior.
There was one senior he hugged a little longer than the rest. That senior was No. 34 Drake Domangue. Domangue injured his knee in the first game of the season against Loreauville. He had to have surgery and missed the entire season.
“I felt for him,” the coach said.
Heading into the Loreauville game, a team EHS beat 14-7 in the first game of the season, LeBlanc was a little concerned because after playing 11 straight weeks (counting the jamboree), the Bobcats suddenly got a bye and did not have to play on Friday.
“It was the unknown that worried me the most,” said LeBlanc about coming off of a bye. “We never had a bye and had to wait two weeks before a game.  I worried more about that than what Loreauville would do.”
The Tigers took their opening drive and marched 78 yards in six plays to go ahead 7-0. The Bobcats had to punt on their first three drives.
“Certain plays we were not sharp on,” he said. “That could have been because of the week off. No one was a fan of it. If I could choose, I would rather not have a bye week.”
Erath’s defense struggled to find a solution to stop Loreauville’s running and passing game.
Loureauville’s  Maddox Savoy was able to dominate on offense with his strong running style. Savoy had 30 carries for 187 yards. He could have reached 200 yards had the junior varsity not come into the game in the final 25 seconds. 
Coach LeBlanc said the first time Erath played Loreauvile, the weather conditions were different because it rained, and Savoy did not stand out like he did on Friday. 
When Maddox was not running over the Bobcats, Loreauville quarterback Hayden Benoit was picking the EHS defense apart. Benoit threw for 226 yards, completing 13 out of 18 passes.
The Tigers accumulated 443 yards of offense.
Erath, on the other hand, had 280 total yards. Erath rushed for 78 yards and threw for 202 yards.
Senior Mason Hebert, who scored the one touchdown on a 2-yard run, finished his final EHS game with 32 yards on eight carries.
EHS quarterback Jack Landry was 10 out of 22 throwing the football. He had a total of 202 yards, including a 50-yard pass to Jonathan Goodrich in the final 15 seconds of the game.
EHS head coach Eric LeBlanc will not let the second-round loss dampen the entire season. The seniors helped Erath finish 8-1 overall and also won an outright district championship.
“This has been an incredible season for the Bobcats,” he said. “These guys finished games and believed in themselves. I am not going to let this playoff game define our season. We had a great year, and the seniors should be proud of what they accomplished. I know I am proud of them, and I love them.”
The 14 seniors are Jonathan Goodrich (0), Coty Broussard (2), Mason Hebert (3), Sawyer Robbins (9), Torrien Alfred (10), Landon Bouillion (11), Luke Etie (12), Peyton Frederick (13), Cameron Soirez (15), Griffin LeBlanc (18), Eli Felipe (33), Drake Domange (34), Andre LeBlanc (60) and Kritein Potier (68).

Many in Vermilion Parish share concerns that the impact of the French language is diminishing locally.
However, those concerns can be mitigated by looking at the thriving French Immersion program at LeBlanc Elementary School (LES). The school displayed that success last week when it celebrated exceeding 100 students in the program. Students performed for family and other guests from the community.
“Our French Immersion program offers students a unique opportunity to become bilingual by learning in French from kindergarten through fifth grade,” LES Principal DeEtte Bigot said while welcoming all visitors. “This opportunity boosts our students’ cognitive skills, problem-solving skills and creativity, while opening doors to cultural and career opportunities. As principal of LeBlanc Elementary School, I have seen our students flourish in the French Immersion program. Each day, I am amazed by our students’ progress.”
Those strides began in 2018. Rachelle Brown served as the principal of LES when the program got off the ground. Brown, now the Supervisor of Music and Fine Arts for the Vermilion Parish School System, attended the celebration. She said she couldn’t be prouder.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate this remarkable milestone with you,” Brown said. “There 108 students in this pathway. We honor the program’s success and the collective effort of everyone who made it possible. Your commitment to our students’ education has provided a foundation for the pathway to thrive. The dedication of our school administrators has been essential in nurturing learning among our students. Our incredible teachers are the heart and soul of French Immersion. Every day, you bring language to life in the classroom. You inspire students to not only learn French, but to embrace a global perspective.”
Brown thanked parents and guardians for their trust in the program and their willingness to send their students to be a part of what is happening at LES. Brown offered special congratulations to those who are living the program on a daily basis.
“To our wonderful students,” Brown said, “this celebration is about you. You impress us with your accomplishments every single day. You make us very proud.”
Brown made a special announcement that the future of the French Immersion program remains bright.
“We are super excited to announce that French Immersion will be going into Erath Middle School next year,” Brown said. 
Peggy Feehan, the executive director of CODOFIL, attended the celebration for something she had long hoped to see happen in Vermilion Parish.
“When we would have conversations about it,” Feehan said, “the door would always seem to close. Then, in 2018, the door opened, and we haven’t looked back. You have a beautiful program, and you have wonderful teachers.
“And I am so happy for the kids because they speak French. This is Vermilion Parish, and that’s your heritage.”

November 20, 1942 - November 13, 2024

ABBEVILLE – Funeral Services for Mr. Louis E. Cole will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Frioux-David Funeral Home of Abbeville with Reverend Ernest Williams III officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary Congregational Church Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 8:00AM until the time of Service on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Frioux-David Funeral Home of Abbeville.
A gifted artist, Louis was skilled in painting, carving, sculpture, and wood restoration, and his work often reflected his love for beauty and craftsmanship. His artistic endeavors brought joy to many, and his talent was only matched by his appreciation for the arts.
As a musician, he expressed his creativity through his trumpet and guitar, and he was a passionate lover of music—particularly R&B, soul and gospel. His voice, whether in song or conversation, was always a source of comfort to those who heard it.
In sports, he was a devoted fan, especially of baseball and football. He cheered for the LSU Tigers, the Chicago Bears, and the New Orleans Saints—always a "long-suffering Saints fan" who remained loyal through thick and thin.
A true family historian, Louis was deeply committed to learning about his ancestry and sharing those stories with others. His interest in literature, poetry, and crossword puzzles kept his mind sharp, and he often spent hours reading or immersed in a challenging puzzle, delighting in the joy of discovery.
A 1961 graduate of Herod High School, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, as well as Gulf Area Vocational School. He served for years as a deacon at St. Mary Congregational Church and was also a member of Live Oak Lodge #193 Prince Hall Freemasonry.
He spent the majority of his career employed as a technician in the oil and gas industry, working for decades at Entex Natural Gas and then Texaco. He ultimately retired from the state’s Department of Transportation and Development. He was a man of great intellect, generosity, and humor. He had a remarkable ability to connect with others, and his warmth and wisdom will be missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Louis leaves behind many family and friends who will carry his memory in their hearts forever. His life was a testament to the power of creativity, the importance of family, and hard work.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruby Meaux Cole; two daughters, Michelle Cole of LaPlace and Dr. Natasha “René” Cole-Leonard and her husband Dr. Joe Leonard of Washington DC; three grandchildren, Cole Leonard, Nicholas Ellis, and Riley Ellis; and two maternal aunts, Vivian Alsop of Los Angeles, CA and Shirley Briggs and her husband Leroy of Abbeville.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ellard Leroy Cole and Alba Henderson Cole.
Serving as pallbearers will be Joe Leonard, Anthony Satcher, Spencer Nunez, Wayne Briggs, Barry Briggs, and Brandon Briggs.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Leroy Briggs, Joe Butcher, Sterling Johnson, and Arthur Williams III.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
Frioux-David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity Street (337) 893-3777 will be in charge of the arrangements.