Kaplan RB Roy leads rushing attack ahead of Erath showdown
Jeremy Roy averages 12.7 yards per carry as the Pirates prepare to host the Bobcats for the District 5-3A title.
By Arjun Weber ·
The Kaplan Pirates host the Erath Bobcats on Thursday to settle the District 5-3A championship.
Jeremy Roy rushed for more than 200 yards on 11 carries in last week’s 43-32 victory over Abbeville. The sophomore scored multiple touchdowns in that game and now holds season totals of 761 yards and eight scores on 60 carries. His average stands at 12.7 yards per carry.
Pirates coach Vinnie Bullara described Roy as shifty in the open field. The coach noted that Roy gained many yards after contact during the Abbeville matchup. Roy also played defensive back and broke up a key pass in the fourth quarter.
Bullara said he spoke with Roy at halftime when the Pirates trailed 26-14. The coach told the player to stay the course if he remained focused. Roy responded by leading the team to a win, with Abbeville’s Jacolby Campbell throwing for nearly 140 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
The Pirates feature other key contributors in the backfield. Fullback De’Maurion Cormier has 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Mathiew Breaux averages 16.4 yards per carry with 361 total yards. Quarterback Jayden Hargrave has rushed for 281 yards and six scores on 59 attempts.
Bullara is watching Erath quarterback Landen DeRouen closely. The senior has thrown for 1,282 yards and 16 touchdowns. DeRouen stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds. Bullara compared the player to a fullback on the ground, noting his ability to scramble for extra yards when pressure arrives.
Kaplan enters the game with a 7-2 record and a 2-0 mark in district play. Erath is 5-4 overall and 2-0 in the district. The Pirates rank No. 7 in Division III non-select power ratings, while the Bobcats sit at No. 18 in Division II non-select.
