Pine Prairie’s winning streak ends at three games

PRAIRIE RONDE – For Pine Prairie, another broken record will have to wait.
The Panthers’ record-making win streak came to an end here Friday evening, 27-12, against the Northwest Raiders in the opening game of District 5-3A.
Heading into the game, Pine Prairie had won three straight games for the first time in school history.
Not only were the Panthers looking to extend that streak, but they were hoping to break the school record for wins in a season, which still stands at three.
Next week, Pine Prairie (3-3, 0-1) will host Church Point, which defeated Port Barre Friday evening. The Raiders (5-1, 0-1) will travel to Eunice, which beat Ville Platte.
Northwest took the early lead on a three-yard Chris Lee touchdown run. Pine Prairie blocked the point-after-try, and the Raiders led, 6-0, midway in the first quarter.
Lee extended the lead in the second quarter on a five yard scoring run. Alex Fontenot made the PAT, making it 13-0.
The Panthers scored on the last play of the first half, as quarterback Dylan Doucet hit Douglas Fontenot on an 18-yard wheel route as the buzzer sounded.
The extra point failed, but the lead was cut to one score, 13-6.
Northwest scored on the first possession of the second half. Matthew Rideau rambled 11 yards for the touchdown, and Fontenot hit the PAT, to push the lead back to two touchdowns, 20-6.
The Raiders took advantage of a huge Panther miscue on the ensuing series to increase the lead. On fourth down, a bad snap rolled past Doucet, who also handles the punts. He recovered the ball, but Northwest took over on downs on the Panther 26-yard line.
Two plays later, Lee scored a third time, on a four-yard run. Alex Fontenot’s kick made it 27-6.
With the game about to slip completely out of reach, Doucet and Douglas Fontenot combined to keep Pine Prairie within striking distance.
On the ensuing kick-off, Doucet received the ball, but tossed it back to Fontenot, who raced 80 yards for the quick score.
The PAT failed, but Pine Prairie was back to a two-score deficit, 27-12.
The Panther defense held Northwest scoreless the rest of the way, but the offense couldn’t muster any more points either.
Lee, who was averaging more than 175 yards rushing per game, was held to just 97 yards; but he scored three touchdowns. Rideau rushed eight times for 72 yards and a touchdown.