RSS Feed

LEROY—Last week, North Vermilion’s head coach Roderick Moy stressed to his team that the playoffs started this past Friday. His message was simple: “If we win, we are in.”
With only two wins before Friday’s game, the Patriots were on the bubble of the Division II Non-Select Power Standings. 
The top 28 teams make the playoffs, which begin in two weeks. The Patriots sat at No. 25.
North Vermilion won 24-20 against the Rayne Wolves.  The Patriots (3-6) moved up to No. 23 and will end the season on the road against St. Thomas More (6-3). 
“We had to have a win,” said Moy. “We figured beating Rayne at home would be easier than beatting St. Thomas More on the road.”
The Patriots needed all four quarters to beat the Wolves.
With around three minutes to play in the game, Preston Bagwell scored from the 1, putting the Patriots ahead 23-20. North Vermilion kicker Logan Blanchard made the extra point to put his team up 24-20.
Then Moy made a bold play call that would be the right one.
On the kickoff after the Bagwell TD, Blanchard, who has a strong leg,  received the play call from Coach Moy. The coach called for an onside kick, but the Patriots’ onside kick differs from most teams.
Blanchard’s task was to kick a line drive, hoping it would bounce off a Rayne defender.
Blanchard not only successfully did that, but he also recovered the onside kick at midfield.
The Patriots ran out the final three minutes of the game.
Coach Moy said he called for an onside kick for three reasons.
First, Rayne was not expecting it.
Second, if Rayne did recover the kick, the Wolves could hopefully go down quickly and score. The Patriots would get the ball back in the game’s final minute and have a chance to win it.
Thirdly, if the onside kick was successful, the Patriots win.
“Logan executed the kick perfectly,” said Moy.  “He had a heck of a game. He went 3-for-3 kicking extra points,  kicked a 34-yard field goal and recovered his onside kick. He had a great game.”
The Patriots held a 17-12 lead at halftime.
Preston Bagwell had a 53-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Bagwell had 15 carries and rushed for 132 yards on the night.
Blanchard’s 34-yard field goal in the first quarter pushed NV’s lead to 10-0.
The Wolves took their first and only game lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Both teams had success running the football.
Rayne rushed for 245 yards, and NV rushed for 284 yards.
Grant Wise had nine carries for 48 yards, while Heath Aubrey had four for 76 yards.
NV quarterback James Higginbotham rushed six times for 25 yards. He also completed four out of eight passes for 69 yards.
With catches for NV were Owen LeBlanc (2-35), Heath Aubrey (1-24), and Brody Lambeck (1-10).

On Friday, at approximately 9:47 a.m Abbeville Police Department received a call of a bomb threat at Capitol One Bank on Hwy 14 By-pass in Abbeville.
The caller stated that there was a male subject inside the bank asking to withdraw a large amount of cash, then passed a note advising that there are bombs all around the building. The complainant gave a brief description of the suspect and what he was wearing.
Abbeville Police Officers responded and arrived within minutes to find the suspect still standing at the bank teller’s window.
Abbeville Police arrested Kevin Grant Abbott, White/Male, DOB 04/04/1976, 909 N Loop 288 Denton, TX. He is being charged with Attempted Armed Robbery. After being medically cleared, he was transported and booked into the Vermilion Parish Corrections Center waiting for the bond to be set.
Before Abbott went to the bank, he was spotted on video walking through an Abbeville business and then requesting to use their bathroom.
Abbott is seen walking through the business wearing a red shirt and jeans and he then heads to the rest room where he changes his jeans and shirt.
He left the rest room wearing athletic sweats and he left his jeans and shirt in the trashcan of the Abbeville business. In his different clothes, he walked on foot down the bypass to the Capitol One Bank.

Chief Mike Hardy urges the public to provide any information regarding any other crimes by calling the Abbeville Police Department at (337) 893-2511. You may also contact our “Tips” line at (337) 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Vermilion by calling (337) 740-TIPS or the P3 app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or at Google Play Store.

The Abbeville Police Department did not release the man’s name or the crimes the alleged robber was charged with. The man is not believed to be from Vermilion Parish.
What is known is that before the man walked into the Abbeville bank, he visited an Abbeville  business where he changed his clothes in the bathroom, according to a video. 
He entered the bathroom wearing blue jeans and a red shirt but walked out wearing athletic sweats. His red shirt, socks, and blue jeans were later found in the trash can of a local business after the attempted robbery.

June 2, 1942 - October 24, 2024

A Catholic Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11 a.m. in Martin & Castille's La Fleur de Lis Chapel in Lafayette, for Aldon A. LeBlanc, age 82, who passed away on October 24, 2024 at The Calcutta House of Lafayette. The family will receive guests at Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE location on Friday from 8 a.m. until the time of the service. A Rosary will be prayed at 9 a.m. in the funeral home.
Deacon Ken David will officiate the services.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Deanna M. LeBlanc; his daughters, Lisa L. White (Joel), Paula L. Crochet (Scotty), and Lori L. Tremblay (Jonathan); his grandchildren, Chase and Laina Melancon, Chelsea and Bryce Crochet, and Jackson and Ava Tremblay; his great grandchildren, Zoey, Gavin, Brennan, Connor, Aubree, and Baylee Melancon; his brothers, Urlan "Joe" (Betty), Irving, Lester (Diana), Russell (Sandra), and Terry LeBlanc (Lou); his sister and Godchild, Vicky L. Derouen (Curney); and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard A. and Levie Broussard LeBlanc; and an infant sister, Mary Helen LeBlanc.
Aldon’s father instilled in him a love of family and the importance of education. He graduated from USL in Civil Engineering and became a professional engineer and land surveyor, and eventually opened his own business. During college, he married the love of his life, Deanna, and together they grew a loving family with three daughters who adored him. A devoted husband and father, Aldon worked tirelessly to provide a comfortable life for his family. He felt that his daughters were his greatest accomplishments and was extremely proud of them. Nothing brought him more joy than to be surrounded by his grandchildren and great grandchildren who lovingly called him Papa.
Everyone was welcomed to his home with his wonderful smile and gift of gab. His love of history and insatiable thirst for knowledge made him a wealth of information. Family history and tales of growing up in Erath were frequent subjects of conversation.
Aldon was an accomplished craftsman, building everything from cabinets to garden sheds to furniture for his first grandson. In his later years, he became an avid landscape gardener, turning his backyard into an oasis for he and Deanna to enjoy as they sipped their morning coffee under the covered patio that he built single handedly in his late 70s. He had boundless energy and strength.
Aldon's legacy is one of kindness, thoughtfulness, and an unwavering dedication to the ones he held dear. As we say goodbye to this remarkable man, we celebrate the indelible mark he left on our hearts and minds. His memory will live on as a guiding light, inspiring us to live with the same loving and friendly spirit that he embodied every day.
Special thanks to Our Lady of Lourdes ICU nurses and staff, Dr. Jeff Chen, and the staff of the Calcutta House for their compassionate care and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Aldon A. LeBlanc's name to Hospice of Acadiana Calcutta House, Wounded Warrior Project, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - you may visit their websites for their donation link.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille - SOUTHSIDE, 600 E. Farrel Road, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508, 337-984-2811