Berwick to host Kaplan Friday

Berwick looks to regroup with Kaplan coming to Geisler Stadium Friday in District 8-3A play.
Berwick (2-4 overall, 1-2 in district) dropped a lopsided contest to Patterson 55-7 last week in Patterson.
Berwick’s offense struggled for the second consecutive week. The Panthers managed just 164 yards of total offense (102 passing and 62 rushing). Berwick had just three first-downs in the first half and seven in the game.
Sophomore quarterback Collin Louviere completed 3-of-17 passes for 73 yards with two interceptions, while Cameron Wiley was 2-of-4 passing for 29 yards.
Berwick got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when the Panthers converted a Patterson fumble into a Wiley 10-yard touchdown run. John McCorkle added the extra-point kick.
This season, Louviere has completed 36-of-93 passes for 626 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He is also the team’s leading rusher, carrying 67 times for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
Audwin Williams led Berwick’s receivers with three catches for 80 yards. The senior also lead the Tri-City area’s receivers with 25 catches for 495 yards and six touchdowns. Kenan Jones is the team’s second-leading receiver with 12 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
“They did a great job in defending us to keep us off the scoreboard,” Berwick Coach Craig Brodie said after the game. “I thought the defense played well overall. We did some good things, but we just couldn’t move the ball on offense.”
With the Patterson loss behind them, Berwick still has a lot to play for, Brodie says.
“I think we need one or two more wins to get into the postseason,” he said. “That’s not something we had a chance for in the past. That would be a giant step in rebuilding this program.”
Berwick and Kaplan (3-3, 1-2) are tied behind Patterson, E.D. White and Erath, who still are unbeaten in the district.
“Our kids always fight back after games like this,” Brodie said after Friday’s game. “And now with a postseason berth a possibly, I expect nothing less from them.”
A week ago, Kaplan beat North Vermilion 46-20 behind sophomore running back McCaylon Thibeaux. Thibeaux, the third-team back when the season started, is now starting in the Pirates Wing-T offense due to injury.
He carried 13 times for 91 yards and scored three touchdowns in his first start a week ago.
Quarterback Jade Herpin also completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Thibeaux in the second quarter.
Herpin has completed 10-of-27 passes for 173 yards with three touchdowns and interceptions apiece this season.
A week ago, Thibeaux returned the second-half kickoff 83 yards for a score and a 22-6 lead.
He had another touchdown in the third quarter on a 14-yard run that extended Kaplan’s lead to 36-14.
The young back has carried 30 times for 174 yards and two scores this season.
But junior fullback Julius Johnson leads the team in rushing.
A week ago, Johnson carried 28 times for 202 yards. He scored on touchdown runs of five, 17 and 31 yards. Johnson has rushed 168 times for 907 yards and six scores this season.
Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Additional reporting by www.vermiliontoday.com.