KAPLAN-The Kaplan Pirates will try to improve from the 2022 season where they went 4-6. Head coach Cory Brodie leads the charge again as Kaplan has some returning players who were significant contributors to their young team just a year ago. Some contributors are players who will play on both sides such as their Swiss army knife Hayes Broussard, a bruiser in Jedd Devoltz, and go-to wide receiver Andre Marceaux. They will have plenty of chances to get revenge on teams they lost to last year with a similar 2023 schedule.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Jedd Devoltz FB/DL, 6’0”, 230 lbs, SR
Devoltz is regarded as the strongest player on the team and has that same mentality when he’s running the ball. He was a starter for the Pirates as a sophomore but missed several games last season with a concussion. To play both sides effectively and increase his stamina, Devoltz has been “running stadiums, snake miles, 400s, 200s around the track” and other running drills throughout the offseason.
Hayes Broussard OG/OLB, 6’0”, 205 lbs, JR
Broussard found himself on 2nd team all-district last year and will be on both sides of the football in his second to last year. He’s got a chance to be the team’s most valuable player with his ability to play many different positions on the team. Broussard’s goals for this season are to make “first team all-parish and all-state and for our team to go to the third round (of the playoffs), semi-finals.”
Andre Marceaux WR/DB, 5’6”, 140 lbs, SR
Marceaux will be one of the go-to guys for Kaplan again this year and says he’s been “working on his route running and hands to catch the ball better” as he looks to improve himself as the number pass catcher for this offense. The senior also mentioned that he would find himself on defense throughout the season as a defensive back and help lead this Pirates squad to a winning record and a playoff berth.
HEAD COACH: CORY BRODIE
Brodie will enter his third year as head coach of the Pirates as they try to improve from their 2022 season where they went 4-6. The Pirates’ head man worked as a student assistant with the Ragin’ Cajuns before working two jobs in the high school ranks as he served as the defensive coordinator for three years at Central Catholic in Morgan City and then was in the same position at Vermilion Catholic. Both teams made a semi-final appearance when he was at each school. In 2023, Brodie says their expectations for this year are to “get that home record back to where we need it. The past two years we haven’t played well at home. Just starting off week one at North Vermilion, which is right down the road and then we’ll have three home games in a row. Hopefully, we can come out of those four with a really good winning record.”
2022 RECORD: 4-6
2023 SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 @ North Vermilion
Sept. 8 vs Berwick
Sept. 15 vs LaGrange
Sept. 22 vs Rayne
Sept. 29 @ Beau Chene
Oct. 6 vs Crowley
Oct. 13 @ Erath
Oct. 20 vs St. Martinville
Oct. 27 vs Church Point
Nov. 3 @ Abbeville
Make sure to listen to the Vermilion Parish Game of the Week live over the air on 106.3 Lafayette’s Rock & Alternative or by downloading the free 106.3 mobile app.