Panthers looking to strengthen playoff chances

Berwick is upbeat after a lopsided win and with a possible playoff spot looming.
Berwick pounded Haynes Academy 41-6 in non-district play Friday. The win gave the Panthers (3-5, 1-3 District 8-3A) its most wins in a season since 2009.
“We had a great week of practice,” Berwick coach Craig Brodie said. “The kids are excited,” Berwick Coach Craig Brodie said. “It’s easy to get them focused after a big win and with the playoffs in reach. We’re 29th (excluding select schools) in the power rankings, so we need to win one of the next two games to get in. It’s been a long time since we talked playoffs this late in the season.”
Berwick hasn’t advanced to the postseason since the 1996 season.
In last week’s win against Haynes Academy, Berwick totaled 403 yards of offense (267 yards passing and 136 yards rushing).
Berwick scored on its first possession of the game, driving 85 yards and scoring with just 31 seconds left in the first quarter on a 3-yard run by backup quarterback Mitchell Sanford, who took over after starter Collin Louviere was injured.
Berwick lead 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Louviere returned to the game on the next drive in the second quarter, which ended with a 2-yard Josh Carver touchdown run.
Berwick led 20-0 at halftime after Louviere hooked up with standout receiver Audwin “Popsii” Williams on a 72-yard touchdown pass.
“Collin is fine and he continues to do a really good job for us,” Brodie said. “He’ll start Friday, but we’re also very comfortable with Mitchell back there.”
Louviere is the team’s top passer and rusher this season.
In Friday’s win, he was 9 of 17 passing for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
This season, he’s completed 54 of 134 passes for 925 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The sophomore also rushed 14 times for 43 yards in Friday’s win.
This season, he has rushed 95 times for 390 yards and three touchdowns.
Sanford was 5 of 5 passing for 92 yards and a score last week.
This season, he has completed 23 of 61 passes for 360 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Williams caught nine passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns last week.
This season, Williams has caught 39 passes for 763 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Popsii had a great game and Tysin Meads played well, too,” Brodie said. “He had a touchdown in place of Kenan (Jones).”
Meads had four catches for 52 yards and a score.
Jones, a highly-regarded sophomore, missed the game because of injury.
He has 13 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns this season.
He will be a game-time decision, Brodie said.
“We threw the ball well (last week), and that will be key for us again this week,” Brodie said. “I expect E.D. White to load the box to stop the run, forcing us to throw.”
E.D. White (5-3, 3-1) dominated North Vermilion 45-28 in Thibodaux Friday behind nearly 500 yards of total offense. The Cardinals had three backs with more than 100 yards rushing.
Nik Shanklin had 21 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while Jeremy Rounds had 13 carries for 150 yards with two scores. Brandon Legendre added six carries for 111 yards with a touchdown.
Shanklin leads E.D. White with 132 carries for 844 yards and eight touchdowns, while Rounds has carried 54 times for 753 yards and seven scores.
Legendre has added 49 carries for 458 yards and five touchdowns.
Quarterback Ben Sposito has completed 30 of 52 passes for 519 yards with seven touchdowns, while Scott Ford leads the wide receivers with seven catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
“E.D. White does a good job running their Wing-T, as good as anybody we’ve seen this year,” Brodie said. “They have three good backs and a young kid that’s pretty good. This is the sixth Wing-T team we’ve played, so hopefully we have learned something.”
Kickoff for Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m.
Additional reporting by www.vermiliontoday.com and www.bayoupreps.com.