Berwick looks to upset No. 7 Kaplan

Berwick got its biggest win of the season against Patterson, 42-35, last week at Geisler Stadium in Berwick, snapping a 20-year losing streak.
But, unbeaten and ranked Kaplan’s stellar rushing attack awaits Berwick in District 8-3A play Friday in Kaplan.
The Panthers will meet the Pirates, ranked No. 7 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A poll, at 7 p.m.
In last week’s contest, Berwick quarterback Mitchell Sanford led the Berwick offense, completing 16 of 33 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford has completed 48 of 94 passes for 1,076 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Standout receivers Josh Carver and Kenan Jones also had big games for the Panthers. Carver had six catches for 136 yards and a score, while Jones had five catches for 148 yards and two scores. The duo is ranked among the state’s top pass-catchers regardless of classification. Carver is No. 5 with 32 catches for 664 yards and eight touchdowns, while Jones is No. 7 with 31 receptions for 664 yards and six touchdowns.
Running back Josh Jones led the Berwick rushing attack with 12 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Josh Jones is the team’s leading rusher with 63 carries for 401 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Berwick (5-1, 2-1) 374.3 yards of total offense (282.3 passing and 92 rushing).
Defensively, Berwick surrenders
“We learned so much in last week’s loss to Erath,” Berwick Coach Eric Holden said after last week’s win. “We got our first look at a playoff caliber team, and I think the guys realized that they had to continue working hard and getting better to get where we want to go.”
Holden said he thinks the team will be focused for Friday’s contest and will prepare like they have for any game.
Kaplan (6-0, 3-0) beat North Vermilion 45-23 last week.
The Pirates are off to their best start since 1996 when the Pirates went 10-0.
Running back Julius Johnson led the Pirates offense against North Vermilion, carrying 28 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns. The standout is among the state’s top rushers with 892 yards on 136 carries with 12 touchdowns.
Kaplan also features another running back, Mac Thibeaux. He carried 15 times for 125 yards and a score last week. He has carried 85 times for 708 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Quarterback Daniel Lotief was 1 of 5 passing for 54 yards and a score in last week’s win. Kaplan doesn’t pass often, with Lotief completing just 4 of 14 passes for 125 yards and four scores this season.
Additional reporting by The Abbeville Meridional