Pine Prairie picks up its first win on the season against Pearl River

Pearl River with a record of 2-0 meandered from the banks of the river bearing the same name to the banks of Bayou Nezpique for a matchup against the 0-2 Panthers. The visitors beat a Pine team 20-19 in week 1 then came back in week 2 and pummeled Sci Academy 47-6. The home team came in after suffering defeats to Bunkie and Beau Chene.

"We came out and played a good first half," said head coach Yves Prince of his Pine Prairie team against Beau Chene. "And if we can put two halves together and be successful, then we have a great chance of winning the ballgame (tonight). We got Douglas Fontenot back tonight, and we got a chance to move the ball with Douglas and Dylan (Doucet) tonight."

Prince got exactly what he was looking for and more as his team picked up its first win of the season by a score of 32-31. The Panther offense was sparked by the thunder and lightening duo of Douglas Fontenot and Dylan Doucet. Fontenot in the first half collected 103 yards rushing and 141 yards on kick returns. He finished the night with 180 yards rushing and 166 yards on kick returns. Doucet at quarterback added 84 rushing yards on the night.

With Pine Prairie down 31-26 with 7:55 remaining on the clock in the game, Pearl River took over at the 43 yard line. Tucker Deshotel sacked the Rebel quarterback for a loss of 5. The Rebels were later penalized 5 yards for false start setting up 2nd and 20. Then on 3rd and 20, the pass down field was broken up and almost intercepted by Dylan Doucet.

The punt went out of bounds as the Panthers took over at their own 42 yard line. Dylan Doucet picked up a first down on a quarterback sneak to the 40 yard line of Pearl River. Joshua Fontenot then ran up the middle for another 1st down. On fourth down as the drive appeared to stall, Dylan Doucet with another keeper rushed for a gain of enough real estate for a first down and more setting up 1st and 10 at the 16 yard line. It was 2nd and 9 after a Douglas Fontenot run. After a Pine Prairie time out Doucet ran down the near side for a 15 yard touchdown. The score after a failed two-point conversion attempt was 32-31 with :59 in the game. Devin Leggett forced a turnover for the Pantherts, and they went into victory formation with 31 seconds remaining on the clock to preseve the victory.

"Douglas is not in shape at the moment, but I'll tell you what he did a great job tonight," said his head coach after the game. "And I thank the Lord for having him back. It's a big boost to the team. Our offensive line came around... and we played good defense."

"We came from behind to win. To come from behind against a 4-A school, I think we're headed in the right direction."

The thunder and lighteing show started with Dylan Doucet returning the kick near to midfield following a Rebel touchdown that made the score 7-0 with 2:50 remaining in the first quarter, but offsetting penallties resulted in a rekick. Douglas Fontenot on the rekick returned it 65 yards to the Rebel 15 yard line for 1st and 10 putting the wheels in motion to set up the tying score as Doucet kept the football himself.

Douglas Fontenot began the second quarter with another kickoff return for 79 yards down to the Rebel 13 yard line. Josh Fontenot then would pick up a 1st down at the 1-yard line for 1st and goal. Pine Prairie scored another touchdown on a quarterback keeper this time from a yard out. The two point conversion went incomplete so the scoreboard read 14-12 with 9:43 before halftime.
Douglas Fontenot found a couple seams a few possessions later for a touchdown carry of 78 yards as the first half clock expired. Pearl River lead 21-20 at the half. Dylan Doucet founds some seams of his own in the tbird quarter for a 54-yard touchdown run, but a holding penalty negated the score.


Following a Rebel field goal from 31 yards out to make the score 31-20, the Panthers began at the 50 yard line. Doucet's pass appeared to be complete to Joshua Fontenot for a Panther 1st down, but it was ruled incomplete as the pass hit the ground on the reception. Douglas Fontenot again found the endzone after a gain of 45 yards.

"Next week is Mamou," added Prince after the game. "And it's at home again, and we play Tara another 4-A school. So we got a chance to win the next two games and get ready for district."

BUNKIE VS PINE PRAIRIE FOOTBALL

Pine Prairie kicked off its season on a warm and humid Friday night at home in what was called "The Battle of Highway 49" and "The Panther Bowl" and succomed to the visiting Panthers of Bunkie by a final score of 48-14. The Bunkie offensive force was propelled by senior running back Joseph Murray, who amassed 277 rushing yards on 12 carries for four touchdowns. Pine Prairie's closest answer was Dylan Doucet garnering 90 yards rushing on 8 rushes for a touchdown.

"We've seen some good things from our younger players," said assistant coack Jack O'Steen. "We're running a new offense. It's gonna take a little bit for it to get rolling."

The game started with Pine Prairie having nowhere to go as Bunkie was controlling the line of scrimmage. Bunkie took over after a punt at its own 44-yard line. On second and 10, Murray carried the football down to the Pine Prairie 25-yard line for a gain of 31 yards. Two plays later Jon'Ques Williams took it the rest of the way for a touchdown. Bunkie after a missed extra point attemopt led the contest 6-0 with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter thus setting the tone early.
Pine Prairie again went three-and-out and was forced to punt. Bunkie in a shot gun formation saw a deep pass completed to Jacob Boatner to the Pine Prairie 43-yard line. The subsequent plays from scrimmage saw some resistance from the home team as evidenced by Josh Fontenot and Gaten Chaddrick bringing up second and 11 on a slow developing play. The resistance proved futile as the Bunkie possession resulted in Murray's first touchdown of the night from five yards out making the score 13-0.

The next possession of Bunkie saw a greater Pine Prairie resistance as the tandem of Corryn Anderson and Jeremiah O'Steen provided a big stop on third down which led to the visitors turning the ball over on downs. The momentum appeared to switch sidelines as the home team saw a glimmer of hope on offense. Dylan Doucet carried for a gain of five resulting in third and short at the 42 yard line. Chaddrick then converted for a first down at the 45-yard line. The glimmer of hope soon faded as pass incompletions led to another Pine Prairie punt.

Bunkie began the next series with its worst starting position of the night but ended it with Murray busting loose around the right side and finding some running room for another touchdown. The KZLG radio team commented that was "running a lot more physical tonight that he did in the jamboree against Marksville."

The first half ended with Bunkie leading 20-0, and the second half began with Murray breaking loose early in the third quarter for a 65-yard touchdown run. With his team down 27-0, Dylan Doucet sprinted down the right side for a 95 yard touchdown. At the 6:13 mark of the third quarter the score was 27-6 after a failed 2 point conversion attempt.

After Bunkie fumbled and Pine Prairie returned the favor by coughing up a fumble of its own, Fred Weber ran it in for a touchdown to increase the lead to 34-6. Jeremy Lewis for Bunkie provided another touchdown on its ensuing possession. Dylan Doucet then took the ball down to Pine Prairie's 45-yard line on the kick. A couple of snaps later Ahmad Fontenot on the option picked up a 1st down at Bunkie's 38-yard line. The freshman Jordan Ardoin on a quarterback keeper broke loose for a big gain setting up 1st and goal at the 10 yard line. Coming out of the I formation, the play resulted for a Pine Prairie by touchdown Ardoin. Brandt Deville converted on the two point conversion as time expired.


O'Steen said of his freshman signal caller after the game, "He showed us some good things tonight."

The Pine Prairie Panthers takes their 0-1 record on the road next week to Arnaudville as they visit the Beau Chene Gators. As to the rest of the season, O'Steen commented, "We just got a lot of work to do. We're gonna keep working hard... We got a long season, so I'm sure Pine Prairie will continue those long strides to continue."