Berwick prepping for Mitchell, Erath

The unbeaten Berwick Panthers are bracing for a rugged District 8-3A matchup at Erath Friday.
Berwick (4-0, 1-0) used a last-minute drive to beat Franklin, 20-14, last week.
With 2:04 left, Berwick got the ball back, and quarterback Collin Louviere completed passes to Kenan Jones and Josh Carver.
On a fourth-and-2 play, the Panthers got just enough yardage to keep the drive alive when Louviere completed a two-yard pass to Carver.
Then, three plays later on third-and-9, Louviere threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Toby Everage with just 24 second left.
Louviere and Mitchell Sanford split time at quarterback with both passing for 133 yards. Louviere has completed 31 of 75 passes for 593 yards and nine touchdowns and six interceptions, while Sanford has completed 17 of 39 passes for 350 yards and three scores.
Berwick did have some “ugly” moments with turnovers and penalties, Berwick Coach Eric Holden said after the game. The Panthers lost two fumbles, threw two interceptions and had nine penalties for 80 yards.
“We’re 4-0…and I’ll take a win any way I can get it,” Holden said after the game.
The top receivers for Berwick are Carver with 18 catches for 392 yards and eight touchdowns and Jones with 20 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
The team’s leading rushers are Josh Jones with 41 carries for 230 yards and a touchdown, while Louviere has rushed 28 times for 96 yards.
Erath (3-1, 1-0) beat North Vermillion 34-0 last week.
The Bobcats are led by senior running back Elijah Mitchell, a UL-Lafayette commit. He is second in the state in rushing with 897 yards on 67 carries (13.4 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. He has 80 points scoring, too.
“They have a power run game, and they’re going to run it right at you,” Holden said. “We’re just working hard like we do for any typical game.”
Erath quarterback Mason Granger has carried 23 times for 184 yards and a touchdown. He also has completed 11 of 37 pass attempts for 108 yards.
Erath has shut out its last two opponents.
Friday’s game is the Bobcats’ homecoming.
Additional reporting by The Abbeville Meridional