Panthers no match for seventh-ranked Bears

The Pine Prairie Panthers went into the game against Church Point knowing it would take a whole heck of a lot to upset the seventh-ranked Bears. From the beginning of the game, Church Point left no doubt as to why they are one of the top-ranked schools in 3A football. The Bears scored 48 points in the first half alone, as they cruised to the 55-6 win over Pine Prairie.
The Panthers took the opening kickoff at their 20 yard line. Three plays and nine yards later, Pine Prairie would be forced to punt. The Bears would waste little time in scoring the first points of the ball game. Five plays into their first possession, Chuch Point’s Tyler Wheeler scooted into the end zone from 27 yards out. The extra point by Kian Richard was good and with only 8:54 seconds left in the first quarter, Church Point led 7-0.
The Bears would tack on two more scores in the first quarter to extend their lead. A 57-yard drive on the very next possession by Church Point would result in seven more points as Christian Veronie scored from one yard out. The extra point was good by Richard and the Bears were up 14-0 with 4:14 left in the opening stanza.
Church Point would close out the scoring in the first quarter when Veronie would weave his way into the end zone from 23 yards out. The extra point by Richard was once again true and the lead now stood at 21-0 in favor of the Bears with 1:43 left to go in the opening period. The drive took all of 1:10 seconds and covered 45 yards in four plays.
The Bears’ next score came off of a special teams play. With Pine Prairie facing a fourth and 29 deep in their territory at the one yard line, Dylan Doucet punted the ball to Church Point. Frederick Williams, the punt returner for the Bears, fielded the punt at the Panther 47 yard line. Williams then raced to the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point was no good. However, the Bears added to their lead and five seconds into the second quarter, the score was Church Point 27, Pine Prairie 0.
The Panthers were able to put their only points of the game in the second quarter. Pine Prairie took over possession on their 20 yard line after the ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback. On first down and 10, Doucet was thrown for an 11-yard loss. The very next play, Doucet connected with Allen Myles for a 91-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers tried for the two-point conversion but it failed. Still, with 10:37 left in the third quarter, Pine Prairie had cut into the Bear lead. The score was now 27-6 in favor of Church Point.
Church Point took control from there and added three more scores in the second quarter. Two Deion Moore touchdown runs, one from 10 yards out and the other a 97 yard jaunt, enlarged the Bear lead to 41-0. Finally, with 4:34 left in the half, Veronie powered his way in from one yard out. With the extra point, Church Point now led 48-0 going into half time.
With the backup players in the game, the Bears were able to paste on one more score. Quarterback Logan Marks connected with receiver Trey Babineaux for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Richard added the extra point and with 6:41 left to go in the third quarter, Church Point led 55-6.
Pine Prairie was never able to penetrate Church Point territory for the remainder of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter. With the Panther’s offense stalled for the rest of the game, the final score stayed the same. Pine Prairie gave a valiant effort, but was no match for the undefeated Bears.
The Panthers now come home to face Ville Platte High School. The Panthers and Bulldogs will tangle on Thursday night. Ville Platte comes into the game with a 2-3 record on the year and is 1-0 in district play, having defeated Port Barre on Friday by a score of 18-0. Pine Prairie has been looking forward to this match-up all season. The Panthers know that a victory over the Bulldogs will put them one step closer to their ultimate goal, the playoffs.