Patriots solid in tune up

LEROY -- It wasn’t quite the real thing, but it was one step closer to the beginning of football season.
North Vermilion attempted to battle a much larger school in Sam Houston in a scrimmage game on Thursday night. The difference in numbers between the two schools showed, but there were some spots where North Vermilion looked like a great football team.
On the second drive of the night for the North Vermilion first team defense, Sam Houston connected on a screen pass that went for more than 80 yards. Sam Houston would reach the endzone again six plays later. It looked as if Sam Houston was going to get its third touchdown of the 15 play possession, but the North Vermilion defense came up strong and held Sam Houston on three straight plays inside the 20 yard line.
Much like the defense, the North Vermilion offense showed some very bright spots on the evening. After a run of nearly 20 yards by Lawrence LeBlanc on third down to keep the drive alive, Jared Broussard avoided a sack and turned what could have been a loss into a 30 yard gain. Broussard was tackled only two yards away from the end zone. Unfortunately, the wet field made holding on to the football difficult for both teams. North Vermilion fumbled on the following play on a hand off attempt.
North Vermilion showed its big play ability again later in the drive when Broussard connected with Jeremy Ryder on a pass play that went for over 30 yards.
“I was very proud of the way we played offensively,” said North Vermilion head coach Stephen Lotief. “I saw some really good things out there tonight. We aren’t where we need to be right now, but we are a lot further along then we were last year.”
The North Vermilion defense really stiffened up on its last 15 set of plays. Sam Houston was not allowed to reach the end zone once during its series.
“They were big and fast,” said Lotief of his opponents. “We held our own out there though.”
The North Vermilion offense looked to have another good drive going on its final 15 play series. Broussard connected with Jabian Kern on a pass play that went for over 10 yards. North Vermilion could never overcome the sloppy playing conditions though, as a ball slipped out of Broussard’s hands on into the hands of a Sam Houston defender.
North Vermilion will kick off its 2008 football season Friday night at Abbeville High in the Acadia/Vermilion Jamboree. North Vermilion will play the second game of the evening against Rayne.