The Pine Prairie Panthers with a
record of 3-6 overall and 0-4 in District 5 3-A hosted the Port Barre Red
Devils with a similar record of 2-7 overall and 0-4 in district play. The
Panthers in the regular season finale hoped to entertain the fans as much as
the top-3 most watched series finales of all time as in when the Korean War
ended on M*A*S*H, when Sam got back together
with Diane on Cheers, and when the
cast of Seinfeld was put in jail for
breaking the Good Samaritan Law. The team succeeded in bringing the excitement
but came up short in a nail biter by a final score of 20-13.
Port Barre received the opening kickoff
and drove 65-yards downfield for a touchdown. Keyshawn Fontenot carried the
football on the opening snap for a first down to the 44-yard line of Pine
Prairie. After the Panther defense appeared to hold, the Red Devils converted
on third down. Deangelo Von Allen on second-and-four broke through the line
setting up first-and-goal, and Fontenot carried the football the rest of the
way. After a point after attempt that went wide right, Port Barre led by a
score of 6-0 with 7:57 remaining in the quarter.
The
Panthers fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, and Von Allen recovered
the fumble and ran into the end zone increasing the lead to 13-points.
A
couple of possessions later, Pine Prairie mustered a drive into Port Barre
territory. The drive began with a personal foul penalty on the Panthers that
backed up the football to the 14-yard line. Keenan Roy carried for a gain of
6-yards, and the Panthers then moved the chains for a first down. On third Devin
Leggett completed a pass to Allen Myles at the 39-yard line to move the chains.
A roughing the passer penalty against Port Barre moved the ball down to the
15-yard line as the first quarter ended.
The Panthers drove down to the 7-yard line before Keenan Roy was tripped
up on fourth down turning the ball over on downs.
Port
Barre was forced to punt on the next possession, but the punt was muffed and
recovered by Port Barre on the Pine Prairie 40-yard line. The Red Devils
capitalized on the turnover and scored a touchdown with 6:37 remaining in the
half. The lead was now 20-0.
Following
a Port Barre interception and subsequent punt, Pine Prairie started a drive
inside enemy territory on the 43-yard line. Myles appeared to catch a pass for
a touchdown, but the score was called back on an ineligible man downfield
penalty. On third-and-9, Leggett connected with Javon Ardoin for a first down
on the 28-yard line. A facemask penalty against Port Barre then moved the ball
half the distance to the goal, and Myles caught a pass down the left side for a
touchdown. Pine Prairie cut into the lead as the score was now 20-6 to close
out the first half.
Pine
Prairie began the second half on its own 20-yard line. Leggett completed a pass
to Myles across the 50-yard line for a first down and a pass to Ardoin down the
left side setting up first-and-goal. Leggett then ran a quarterback keeper for
10-yards into the end zone bringing the score to 20-13 with 8:15 remaining in
the third quarter.
Devin
Leggett and Javon Ardoin intercepted a Port Barre pass on subsequent
possessions, but each time Pine Prairie failed to capitalize.
The
Panther defense then held forcing Port Barre to turn the ball over on downs,
and the Panther offense started on its own 30-yard line. Douglas Fontenot
carried for first down to the 44-yard line. Leggett again completed a pass to
Myles deep downfield down the left side to the 14-yard line. On third-and-10,
Fontenot carried down to the 9-yard line setting up first-and-goal. However the
drive stalled and the Panthers turned the ball over on downs as well.
Again
the Panther defense held forcing a punt, and the Panther offense started on the
38-yard line. Leggett then completed a pass to Fontenot down at the 16-yard
line of Port Barre. However, the drive again stalled as Leggett’s pass was
intercepted at the goal line as time expired.
Pine
Prairie coach Yves Prince said after the game, “We lost a hard game. They
fought hard. We didn’t’ play hard the first half, and we came out fast in the
second half. But, I’m proud of my seniors. They went down fighting. It was a
good year.”
