Peter Russo Trophy up for grabs on Thursday

Dismiss any records, as the Abbeville Wildcats (2-5) are set to compete against the Kaplan Pirates (5-2) for the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy. 
The two teams will compete this Thursday in Abbeville, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. This matchup will be the 64th time the teams have contended for the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy.
The trophy was named in honor of a 1941 AHS graduate who passed away while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944 during World War II. As established by Russo’s family, the trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Abbeville-Kaplan game every year since 1961.
Abbeville won the trophy in 2021 for the first time in 16 years and retained it two years ago. Abbeville had a three-game winning streak over Kaplan, but then Kaplan regained the title with a 44-0 victory last year.
Interim head coach Trevor Eaton now coaches Abbeville.
Eaton has been the interim head coach for the last three games and has the Wildcats at 2-1. They began the year 0-4 under former head coach Jonathan Zenon. 
During Eaton’s time as a player for AHS from 2007 to 2010, the Wildcats lost all three Kaplan games with a total score margin of 85-41.
He did get a taste of winning the Russo Trophy when he was an assistant football under former AHS head coach Roderick Moy, who won it three times before leaving for North Vermilion High School.
Winning it as a new head football coach would be great, said Eaton. But he also knows the Pirates, on paper, looked to be favored based on their 5-2 record, but do not count out Abbeville, he said.
“While Kaplan has the better record, Abbeville is not the same team it was the first four games of the season,” said Eaton.  “The way we played the last three games, we have given the next three opponents something to worry about.”
On the other side of the sideline will be John Thompson, a former Vermilion Catholic player and longtime VC assistant football coach. 
“From what I see on film, Abbeville is likely the best 2-5 team in the state,” added Thompson. “They have athletes capable of making plays. We cannot afford to make mistakes against them.”
Thompson is familiar with the Russo Trophy, as he grew up hearing about it while attending and coaching at Vermilion Catholic. For the first time, he is now directly involved in the event as the new head coach at Kaplan.
“I am very familiar with the Kaplan/Abbeville rivalry,” said Thompson.  “Remember, I went to VC and it is still Abbeville High. Playing Abbeville is a district and parish game first. We want to beat as many parish teams in every sport as possible. Abbeville is a parish team.”
Thursday’s game is also the beginning of district for both teams. Because it is only a four-team district, every district game is important, said Thompson. 
“We can not afford to lose any if we want to win the district title,” Thompson said.