Berwick looks for a 2-0 start against Abbeville

Berwick High will look to improve to 2-0 this week when it hosts Abbeville High Friday at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats come to Berwick following a tough week.
After falling to Kaplan, 32-6, Friday in their season opener, the Wildcats were dealt a tough blow Saturday when their coach, Gary Adkins, passed away in the Baton Rouge area.
Adkins, who took over the Wildcat program in 2015, was diagnosed with cancer approximately a year ago and fought radiation’s side effects last season, The Abbeville Meridional reported.
Abbeville finished its 2015 season with a 4-7 mark and advanced to its first postseason appearance since 2009. The Wildcats had finished a combined 1-19 the previous two years prior to Adkins’ arrival.
While the Meridional reported Adkins had been deemed cancer free in December, he had throat surgery this summer in Baton Rouge and was unable to return to Abbeville, the newspaper said.
First-year Berwick High coach Eric Holden worked with Adkins briefly at Tara High School in Baton Rouge. Holden said Adkins offered him the defensive coordinator job when Adkins left Tara for St. Martinville High School, but Holden declined the offer because he wanted to stay with his daughter in Baton Rouge.
“Gary was always very gracious to me,” Holden said. “He always looked out for me. I appreciated everything he did for me. Just a great guy. I liked him. A great football coach, and that’s not really what matters right now, but he was always very good to me, so I have nothing but love for (the) guy.”
Kevin Kern, Abbeville’s defensive coordinator who served as the team’s acting head coach a season ago and this season’s first game, has been named the new Abbeville interim coach by Principal Ivy Landry.
As for Friday night’s game, Holden’s squad will face their second consecutive Class 4A squad to start the season.
“They’re big, they’re strong, they’re mobile,” Holden said of Abbeville. “Well-coached, as you can tell. Coach Gary’s influence is there, and you can see it. They’re just a powerful team on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. They’ve got athletes everywhere.
“We’ve really got to be on our Ps and Qs to get this done,” Holden added. “Of course, once again, we’re playing up a classification, so we have an opportunity to really make a statement, but we’re going to have to play a near-perfect game to get it done.”
Abbeville is led by senior quarterback Demarcus Collins. In the loss to Kaplan, Collins rushed 19 times for 89 yards. He also completed 7 of 17 pass attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Holden said Collins is impressive.
“He’s got a rocket for an arm,” Holden said. “He’s got great feet. Their offensive line is strong and powerful. Extremely mobile.”
Senior slotback Jose Pedroza had five carries for 31 yards rushing last week, while he caught Collins’ touchdown, a 34-yard pass out of the back field.
Another receiving threat for the Wildcats is tight end Allen Arclies, who stands 6-feet, 4 inches. He had three receptions for 35 yards a week ago.
Defensively, Holden said Abbeville runs multiple defenses, lining up in a 3-4 scheme and a 4-2-5 look.
Against Kaplan, Abbeville trailed 16-0 at halftime.
However, Abbeville led the first-half stat lines with 44 plays, while Kaplan had 16. Kaplan had one first down and 93 yards of offense at halftime, and Abbeville had 161 yards of total offense.
Kaplan scored on a 65-yard fumble return for a score, while later, the Pirates scored their second touchdown via a short run for the 16-0 halftime advantage.
Berwick comes into Friday’s game after defeating Morgan City, 27-21, Friday.
The Panthers have a variety of offensive weapons.
Junior quarterback Collin Louviere completed 9 of 24 pass attempts for 181 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed five times for 26 yards.
Sophomore Josh Jones led the Berwick ground attack with 18 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Kenan Jones, who holds an LSU offer, led the Berwick receivers with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Other top receivers included junior Josh Carver, who had one catch for 88 yards and a score, and senior Tysin Meads, who had a touchdown reception.
Friday’s game will be broadcast by KQKI 95.3 FM.