Abbeville, LA (KADN) -- The Vermilion Catholic Eagles bounced back from a first half deficit to knock off Riverside Academy 33-20 in the Division IV playoffs.  That's not the first time the Eagles have overcome adversity after dealing with two hurricanes and a pandemic.   Now they are gearing up to face the OCS Eagles a team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2017.  Resilience has been their calling card this season.

"They take everyday as a blessing out here to be with their buddies and be with their coaches,"  Vermilion Catholic new football coach Broc Prejean said.  "It has been a great year to be out here with these kids and this staff and we just don't take anything for granted."

"It's our leadership from our junior and our seniors,"  sophomore linebacker Ashton Belaire explained.  "When we were down at halftime our leadership from those guys helped us up."

"Vermilion Catholic always has a great program,"  Ouachita Christian head football coach Steven Fitzhugh said.   "They have changed coaches a few times in the last six to eight years but that have never stopped them from being in the hunt."

Seeding doesn't mean much in the Division IV playoffs.  Last season Vermilion Catholic lost as a number one seed.  In the last three years the state champion has been outside of the top three seeds all three years.