Panthers lose nail biter to Port Barre

            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.”