Kaplan runs past Berwick for District 8-3A victory

KAPLAN – The Kaplan Pirates ran their record to 7-0 this season as they rushed by the Berwick Panthers for a 37-18 victory in District 8-3A action Friday.
While Berwick had the Kaplan deficit as little as 8-6 following a Cameron Wiley kickoff return to counter Kaplan’s touchdown on its opening drive, the Pirates pulled away from there, jumping out to as much as a 37-12 lead following a Daniel Lotief 37-yard pass to Mac Thibeaux with 8:46 remaining in the game.
The Pirates (7-0 overall, 4-0 in district) completed just two passes all night but both were for touchdowns.
However, its offense was propelled by its run game, which totaled 371 yards on 65 carries.
Berwick coach Eric Holden said Friday’s game gave his team an opportunity to continue to learn as they try to recreate themselves into a hard-nosed football.
“Most of the coaches that’s come across the field at the end of (the) game, they say we’re going in the right direction,” he said. “They’ve never seen us look the way we look, and I know we’re getting better.”
Holden said his team learns something about the process of moving towards playing that type of football each time they play a hard-nosed football team.
From that learning, they get to go back and make themselves better by incorporating the lessons learned, he said.
“As disappointed as I am by not winning the thing, I know we have a great opportunity to get better this week,” he said.
While Berwick’s offense struggled to score points, it wasn’t helped by long, time-consuming drives by the Pirates throughout the game.
Berwick (5-2, 2-2) had the ball just four possessions in the first half, although one possession was cancelled out via Wiley’s kickoff return for a touchdown.
In the second half, the Panthers had just four more possessions, but scored touchdowns on two of them.
Berwick’s offense was held to a season-low 209 yards (140 passing and 69 rushing) by the Pirates, which came into the game ranked No. 7 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A poll.
“They actually changed a lot of stuff we saw on field,” Holden said of the Pirates’ defense scheme. “It happens, and we made some adjustments in the second half. I thought we moved the ball better in the second half.”
Kaplan received the ball first Friday and needed just five plays to reach the end zone. The drive’s big play was its first as Julius Johnson ripped off a 47-yard run before being tackled by Wiley at the Berwick 26.
Four plays later, Lotief scored on a 1-yard carry. Johnson’s two-point conversion was good for an 8-0 Kaplan lead with 9:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Berwick countered quickly as Wiley fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 77 yards for a score with 9:25 remaining.
The Panthers’ two-point pass attempt was no good, but it trailed just 8-6.
Kaplan reeled off touchdowns on two of its next four offensive possessions as Lotief connected with Ridge Herpin for an 8-yard touchdown with 3:51 remaining in the opening quarter, while Johnson scored on a 6-yard run with 3:32 remaining in the half. Johnson was successful on two-point conversion attempts for both touchdowns for a 24-6 Kaplan lead.
Berwick got the ball in Kaplan territory on its first three drives of the first half but could not find the end zone.
The Panthers received the ball to start the second half, and had no problems scoring on their first drive.
From the Berwick 38, quarterback Mitchell Sanford completed a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Kenan Jones to the Kaplan 42.
On the next play, Sanford and Jones hooked up again, this time on a 42-yard pass play for a score.
Berwick’s two-point conversion attempt failed, and Kaplan led 24-12 just 12 seconds into the third period.
However, Kaplan countered with a 12-play, 62-yard drive that drained more than half of the quarter’s remaining clock.
The drive was capped by a Johnson 5-yard touchdown run with 5:01 remaining. Johnson’s two-point run failed, but Kaplan led 30-12.
Johnson led the Pirates offense with 34 carries for 232 yards and two scores.
On Berwick’s next drive, Sanford nearly connected with Jones for a sure touchdown from the Kaplan 39, but Jones dropped the pass.
However, four plays later, Sanford was intercepted on a play that Holden said he thought was pass interference.
Kaplan drained the remainder of the third-quarter clock and three-plus minutes of the fourth quarter before Lotief found Thibeaux behind the Berwick defense for a 37-yard touchdown completion with 8:46 remaining in the game.
Reed Renfrow’s extra point was good for a 37-12 Kaplan lead.
Berwick scored on its second-to-last possession when Collin Louviere connected with Jones for a 7-yard touchdown.
That controversial interception and another by Louviere on the Panthers’ last drive hurt the team’s scoring opportunities.
“Against a team that runs the clock down like they do, you just can’t have that,” Holden said. “You’ve got to score every possession, because they’re running the clock, and they did a great job. Those guys are great football players. … I love watching hard-nosed teams like that, and our team is slowly moving in that direction. We’re going to get there.”
Jones led Berwick’s receivers with six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Sanford led the Berwick passing attack as he completed 7 of 18 pass for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led the run game with six carries for 46 yards.
In addition to Johnson, Thibeaux rushed 17 times for 99 yards and caught one pass for a 37-yard touchdown.
Lotief completed 2 of 5 passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns, while he rushed for 20 yards and another score.
Kaplan had 416 yards of offense.
Berwick will return to action Friday when it travels to face undefeated Haynes Academy. The game will be played at East Jefferson High School in Metairie.
Kaplan will continue district play Friday at Franklin.