Deville pleased with Panthers’ spring performance

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

With the end of the school year comes spring football. This is a time for coaches to get some sort of an idea of what they may have or not have when the football season begins in August. After Pine Prairie traveled to Elton last Thursday, second-year head coach Brian Deville had a very positive outlook on the upcoming 2008 football season.

“We did a lot of really good things,” Deville commented. “We had some new people in new positions, but they all did a great job.”

The Panthers did not score while the first teamers were on the field. However, they did move the ball down the field very well. A fumble inside the 10-yard line hindered what would have been the only score of the game for either team.

The second teams were also very impressive. The Panthers scored twice and held the Indians scoreless.

The Panthers found the end zone when quarterback Ryan Roy rounded the end and scored on a quarterback sweep. Later in the offensive series, Roy found Kendall Celestine in the end zone on a hitch pass for the second score.

“The offense did a great job,” said Deville. “Ryan (Roy) did a great job of spreading the ball out. He hit six different receivers today for nearly 100 yards. Marcus Veillon came up big for us. He did a great job of catching the ball.”

The biggest concern on offense for Deville is his offensive line. They are young in age and in experience and he knows they have to be good in order for the Panthers to have success this year.

“Our offensive linemen are young,” he stated. “They are learning the game more and more each day. Our center is a freshman so its really new to him.”

The defense was fast and quick to the ball. They looked sharp using a new defensive formation. The Panthers went from a 4-2--5 set to a 3-3 stack set.

“We held them today,” Deville commented. “They may have gained 50 yards all day. The new formation simplifies things for the boys. They have really adjusted well.

There were a couple of standout players on defense. Middle linebacker Andrew Thomas and strong safety Jared Bradley were really strong against the run. Senior nose guard Pat Washington and senior defensive tackle David Lang showed a positive glimpse to a very good defensive line. Deville will look to them to be leaders not only on defense but on the entire team.

After three straight winless seasons, things are beginning to look better for the boys who wear the orange and black on the football field. With the season less than three months away, Deville and his staff sees some very good things.