Calvary's Aubrey Hermes key in lifting Cavaliers past Westgate
Calvary wide receiver Aubrey Hermes is a multi-talented athlete on a team of mega-talented athletes and he’s one of the reasons why the Cavaliers are favorites to win their second state football title in four years.
Not many seniors in Louisiana can strut with LHSAA state championship rings in two different sports. But Hermes, who’s often just a blur on the football field as he leaves defensive backs in his rearview, owns one from the Calvary’s 2020 Division IV football title and one from the 2022 D-IV baseball title. Both championships came in wins over Ouachita Christian.
Hermes has been impressing opposing coaches all season heading into Friday’s contest against highly regarded Westgate, one of the state’s top Class 4A teams, which the Cavaliers defeated 32-22.
“He’s a competitor, I think that’s his biggest attribute,” said Wossman coach Terrence Cahee II, whose team lost 21-6 to Calvary last week. “He plays with a chip on his shoulder. A kid that you have to always know where he is. Somebody is going to get a steal with this kid.”
Against Westgate, Hermes had a 55-yard pass reception to set up on Cavalier score and caught a 4-yard TD from quarterback Abram Wardell. He also had two-point conversion pass reception.
The game ball could have gone to the Calvary defense, led by Hutch Grace, Landon Sylvie and Julius Moss. Grace had arguably the hit of the year on a Westgate return man, Moss had a 95-yard pick six and Sylvie had an interception to seal the win with 2:35 left.
Hermes came into the contest with 20 catches for 439 yards and six TDs.
Currently, Hermes has football offers from Division III Centenary and FCS Grambling State and none in baseball. That doesn’t make a lot of sense for the 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete who catches everything that comes his way.
“Aubrey is a great route runner who wins all 50-50 balls,” Calvary coach Rodney Guin said. “Late in his freshman year, he really turned it on making some big catches in the state title game.”
Hermes may be just as good on the baseball field as he is running routes. His range in the outfield makes it nearly impossible for the opposition to hit the gap. He hit .394 this past spring with a .517 slugging parentage, while adding 36 RBIs and 35 stolen bases.
“Hermes is an extremely toolsy player who is a game changer with the glove and bat,” former Calvary baseball coach Jason Legg said. “He’s athletically gifted enough to play and excel at all nine positions. Hermes has had great bat-to-ball skills his whole life and as his body has developed such that he has added a power piece to his arsenal.”
The Cavaliers football team is stacked with talent, especially on the offensive side, with Louisiana Tech commitment John “Jay” Simon IV and Kolby Thomas at wide receiver, and four-star running back James Simon, who delivered a bone-crushing TD run in the first half. They’re operating behind perhaps the best offensive line Guin’s had in 25-plus years of coaching with a quality quarterback in Wardell.
Hermes began playing football as a first grader but gave up the sport because of the lure of travel baseball. He eventually tired of baseball only, so he picked up football again as a Benton middle schooler. He was buried on the depth chart as a Calvary freshman until COVID and injuries slowed teammates in front of him. He caught a TD pass against Haynesville in Week 10 of 2020.
“He’s a special player,” Captain Shreve coach Adam Kirby said. “His route running is phenomenal and his ability to make plays in traffic is one of his biggest attributes.”
What the sports future holds for the senior is currently unclear. He’s got the talent and drive to excel in football and baseball at the next level. It’s just a matter of some school getting a steal.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Here’s why Calvary receiver Aubrey Hermes could be a collegiate steal
