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Abbeville High School senior wide receiver Derek Arclies worked for three and a half years to crack the starting lineup, and during last Friday’s scrimmage, he finally did it – at defensive end.
 Arclies measures at 6’5.  As a freshman, putting him at receiver was a no-brainer.  He’s tall, athletic, and has enormous hands.  But he never could get to first string.
  “I was in my head too much,” Arclies explained.  “On offense, you have to worry about so much.  On defense, you just run through people and attack the ball.”
Arclies’ defensive aspirations were born in the week of practice leading up to the scrimmage.  He didn’t practice defense though.  He was still a second-string wide receiver.  He just expressed his desire to do whatever it takes to get on the field.
“I had asked Coach Zenon if I could try defense because it’s my senior year,” Arclies said.  “I played offense my whole life.  I felt I needed to do something to get a starter position.”
During the scrimmage, Arclies caught a touchdown pass with the second-string offense. When he came off the field, head coach Johnathan Zenon told him to get back out there — as the first-string defensive end.
   “I got on the field and said to myself, ‘I don’t know how to play this position at all,’” Arclies said.  “I’m sure Coach wouldn’t get mad if I just busted through the line.
“The offensive lineman wasn’t a small person, but I’m way stronger than I look, so I went up confidently. When I busted through, the coaches were fired up, yelling that’s how you do it, Arclies! So, I just kept doing it.  Eventually, I learned to look for the ball and finished with four tackles.”
 This week, Arclies is no longer the second-string wide receiver.  He’s now the starting defensive end.  Zenon credits his work ethic and offensive knowledge for his success on defense.
“This guy gives 110 percent in everything he does,” Zenon said.  “Friday, he went on the defensive side, having never played it at all, and he did exactly what we needed him to do.”  
“At receiver, he had to block, so he knows how to use his hands.  He also knows how to watch the ball.  On offense, he sees the ball move, and he’s gone.  That jump off the ball gives him a huge advantage on defense.”
Zenon said it’s a testament to his character that Arclies stuck it out as long as he did.  He’s happy that his hard work is finally paying off, even though it doesn’t look how he thought it would.  He also believes that Arclies’ body type, 26 ACT score, and work ethic could land him a scholarship by season’s end.
“He never gave up,” Zenon said.  “That’s something we preach.  He’s very tough mentally because he did everything that was asked of him, and he still didn’t get an opportunity.  Now he’s on the defensive side and has a big role.
“I’m very proud of him.  I’m excited to see what he does this season.  I know he’s going to do great things.  If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, I see him getting a scholarship at the end of the year.”

Simone Nicole Hilda Pillette, born and raised in Abbeville but a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was born on September 28, 1997, to Raven Matthews Miller and Louis Keith Pillette and was called to her eternal resting place on August 18, 2024. Known for her infectious smile and exuberant personality, Simone lived her life with pure joy and compassion. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend and coworker. Simone will live on in our hearts forever.
Simone is survived by her beloved parents: her mother Attorney Raven Matthews Miller, her stepfather Hilton Miller and her father Louis Keith Pillette of Abbeville, Louisiana. She was a devoted and caring sister to Isaiah Pillette, Keena Pillette, Summer Miller, Keith Pillette (Tasia), all of Abbeville, Louisiana, Denarius Darby of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Devin Pillette (Isabella) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Taijah Ford of Houston, Texas. She will be forever cherished by her aunts: Dr. Altamić Matthews Conner (Reginald Sr.)of Biloxi, Mississippi, Doris Plowden, Rebecca Pillette, Florida Pillette, and Faye Pillette Hebert (Jared) all of Abbeville, Louisiana; her uncles: Colonel Howard Matthews, Jr. (Jeneria) of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Kelvin Matthews, Sr. (Nyesha), Arthur Ray Pillette Jr., Eunice Pillette (Janean), Edward Pillette Sr. (Linda), Leonard Pillette, Kevin Pillette (Ebony) all of Abbeville, Louisiana.
She is preceded in her sunset by her maternal grandparents Howard Sr. and Brenda Matthews, and Augustus Felix and her paternal grandparents Annie Mae Pillette Guidry and Arthur Ray Pillette Sr., her maternal great-grandparents Hilda and Percy Lewis, and Ernest Matthews, Sr., as well as Floyd Rice Sr. and Rosa Belle Willis, paternal great grandparents Nicey Thomas and Lloyd Guidry, her aunt, Tonie Pillette and her uncle, Danny Pillette. Her memory is lovingly held by a host of family to include nieces, nephews, great-aunts and uncles, cousins and other relatives, coworkers, and friends.
Simone was a beautifully composed and classy young woman that brightened any room she entered. She was a devoted Catholic and Christian that exemplified the essence of a God-fearing woman. She attended Pastor Keith Richard’s church Elevate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2015, Simone graduated from North Vermillion High School where she excelled in academics, basketball, track, volleyball, student government, dance, and band. She is a proud 2019 graduate of Southern University and A&M College earning a Bachelors of Science in Accounting with Honors College distinction. While at Southern University, Simone pledged Beta PSI chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She was given the line name “C.P.A.” (Classy Pretty Accomplished). She continued her involvement in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as a member of the GAMMA ETA OMEGA Graduate Chapter. Her matriculation at SU also included involvement as an Honors College Ambassador, member of the student government association, and College of Business student leader to name a few. In these five years since college graduation, through her steadfast dedication to public service at the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor President’s Office under the administration of Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, she has touched the hearts and lives of many within the community. Her bubbly energy, infectious laughter, and sincere love will be deeply missed.
A Celebration of her Life will be officiated by Bishop B.K. Stevens of Faith Hope Christian Fellowship Church, her mother’s church home. Services will be held at New Life Church at 1109 N Lafitte Rd, in Abbeville, LA on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a rosary at 10:15 a.m. and a special “Ivy Beyond the Wall” ceremony facilitated by ETA CHI OMEGA Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at 10:30 a.m. Service will begin at 11 a.m., with interment immediately following at St. Paul Cemetery. Thanks is extended to all who have covered and continue to cover this family as they grieve this tragic loss.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kinchen Funeral Home, Inc. - 218 North St. Valerie Street, Abbeville, LA. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed via its website: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

LEROY - The North Vermilion Patriots faced another team for the first time under new head coach Roderick Moy on Thursday as the Opelousas Catholic Vikings made the trip south to LeRoy, and he liked what he saw.
 “I was very pleased with what I saw overall,” Moy said.  “Our offense scored two touchdowns, and our defense created three turnovers.  That’s what I was second most proud of.  Number one was that the later the game went, the more physical we got.” 
  On their first offensive possession, the Patriots couldn’t get anything going.  On their second possession, the offensive line took over, and the running game got going.  The drive culminated with a Grant Wise touchdown run.
Later in the scrimmage, Owen LeBlanc hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass for quarterback James Higginbotham for the Patriots’ second touchdown.  LeBlanc also threw for another 40-yard completion later in the scrimmage.  He also added an interception. 
 “Owen LeBlanc stuck out to me,” Moy said.  “He’s the sixth LeBlanc boy to come through this school.  He contributes wherever we put him.  He’s the ultimate team player.”
Defensively, North Vermilion held OC in check, save for one touchdown with a 30-yard pass.  Jax Smith also had an interception.
The Patriots face Eunice in Rayne in jamboree action next Thursday at 6 p.m.

 Kaplan looking to improve

KAPLAN – The Kaplan Pirates scrimmaged the Eunice Bobcats Thursday night at Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium.
 Overall, Kaplan head coach Stephen Lotief liked what he saw from his team.  They put together one long, prototypical Kaplan drive but also turned the ball over, had too many penalties, and gave up some big pass plays on defense.
“We did good, but we got to get better,” Lotief said.  “We must quit putting the ball on the ground and giving up the big play.”
 The Pirates put together a 13-play drive that culminated with a two-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Hebert. While they did move the ball throughout the scrimmage, turnovers and penalties prevented them from scoring more.
On defense, the Pirates played well against the run but had no answer for the Bobcats passing game.  Eunice completed several long passes that either set up or ended in a touchdown.
“We don’t see that,” Lotief said.  “It’s hard to simulate somebody that can run by you in practice.  We can make all the excuses in the world, but you will look stupid if you don’t collide with a guy and let him run.”
The Pirates will be in jamboree action next Friday when they take on the Church Point Bears at Wildcat Stadium in Abbeville.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Erath offense stalls

The Erath Bobcats offense had trouble with the small things - like the snap between the center and the quarterback against Ascension Episcopal  Blue Gators - a Class A team.
Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc was not too happy about the offense.
“It was not up to our standards,” said LeBlanc about his team’s offensive performance. We must work on the little things, like snaps on offense.”
LeBlanc did say he liked what he saw on defense. 
“I was pleased with our defense,” he said.
Erath is back in action on Thursday in the Vermilion/Acadia Jamboree. Erath will play Rayne at 7:30 p.m.

The Vermilion Catholic Eagles outscored the Westminster Crusaders in Thursday night’s scrimmage.
The scrimmage had a play script that was divided up into two halves.
In the first half, the teams worked on pass offense and pass defense with the first and second teams.
Then, in the second half, it became more of a game-type situation. Both teams ran different scenarios, like third down and 8 or second down and 5. 
Then, at the end of the scrimmage, the two teams went up and down the field like in a game.
VC head coach Broc  Prejean said he enjoys this type of scrimmage.
“It is about getting a lot of guys on film,” said Prejean. “We keep everything tight, and we get to see blocking schemes and footwork.
We get to look back at the film, see how the wideouts ran their routes, and make corrections.”
The Eagles scored two rushing touchdowns in the second half
Joe Langlinais had a 20-yard run to bring the ball down to the 3. On the next play, Luke McLain punched it into the end zone for a 3-yard TD run.
Then, on VC’s next possession with the first team, quarterback Jonathan Dartez had a 70-yard touchdown run to ice the scrimmage.
Dartez also completed a 25-yard pass to Ross Dartez, a 10-yard pass to Will Simon and a 10-yard pass to Jyrin Bessard, 
On defense,  Westminster’s quarterback was under pressure throughout the scrimmage.
VC linebacker Allen McLain had a couple of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Alex Broussard also had a couple of big tackles for VC.