Panthers host Red Devils with playoff berth on line

The Pine Prairie Panthers will host the Port Barre Red Devils this Friday in a must needed victory. If the Panthers can come away with a win, they would have an outside chance of sneaking into the top 32 power ranking in class 3A and earn a playoff berth.
This would be significant, as it would be the first playoff appearance in the history of the school and it would give the Panthers a school record four wins. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
The Panthers ran into a buzz saw this past Friday, as they were dominated by the Livonia Wildcats in a 52-2 loss. Pine Prairie could not manage much offense, only gaining 134 yards.
The defense did not fare well either, giving up 445 yards to the Wildcats. To be fair, Livonia came into the game as the number two team in the state in power rankings. Also, the Wildcats outmanned the Panthers four to one in terms of total football players.
Even with the loss Pine Prairie still has an outside shot at the playoffs. The Panthers came into the game ranked number 35 in the state, only three places off of that magical number 32. If last year is any indication, a four-win team is almost assured a playoff spot. That is why the game against Port Barre looms so large.
Port Barre comes into the game with an overall record of 2-7. The Red Devils have not been very good on offense this year, only averaging 12 points a game. The Port Barre defense has given up an average of 29 points per game.
There is only one key for the Panther victory this week; consistency. Pine Prairie has not been able to be consistent on both sides of the ball this year. It will take the Panthers offense to finish drives inside of Red Devil territory and the defense must not give up the big play.
If the Panthers can put together a complete game against Port Barre, we may just see the name Pine Prairie in the playoff bracket come Sunday when the official playoff teams are named.