Pine Prairie matches school record for wins

PINE PRAIRIE – The Pine Prairie Panthers did not have any passing yards in Thursday’s game against District 5-3A opponent Port Barre.
Then again they really did not need any as the Panthers defeated the Red Devils 13-8, as they tied a school record for most wins in a season with their third victory on the year.
Not only that but it was the first time in school history that the Panthers picked up a district win.
Taking down Port Barre may turn out to be a springboard for Pine Prairie heading into their final two games of the year.
“This was probably the biggest win in the school’s history,” stated Pine Prairie head coach Yves Prince. “It was the first time in this school’s history that we won a district game. We had a great week of practice and it showed tonight. We needed this win.”
Pine Prairie’s first score came off of a Port Barre turnover. With the Red Devils holding possession of the ball at their own 20-yard line mid-way through the second quarter, running back Terrance Lemelle broke free past the Pine Prairie front seven and was off to the races. However, the ball was punched out of his hands by a Pine Prairie defender at the Panther 35-yard line and was recovered by Isaiah Payne, who promptly scooped it up and brought it up to the 45-yard line.
From that moment, Pine Prairie went on a methodical 17-play 51-yard drive that ended when Darnell Durgin plunged in from two-yards out. The extra point was good off of the foot of Tyler Soileau and with 3:31 left in the half, the Panthers led 7-0.
Port Barre did not get on the board until the third quarter. The Red Devils took the second half kickoff and brought it up to their 17-yard line. 19 plays and 83 yards later, Port Barre’s Ashton Dekerlegend found Kentrell Jackson in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was good and Port Barre had a 8-7 lead with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
The teams traded possession for the rest of the third quarter and in to the fourth quarter.
Port Barre then took over at its own eight-yard line after a Pine Prairie punt and after three plays faced a fourth-and-one from the 17-yard line. In a controversial decision, the Red Devils elected to get the first down, but was stopped cold by the Panther defense.
That was all that Pine Prairie needed, as the Panthers took advantage of the field position and punched the ball into the end zone in only four plays. The final play was a two-yard run from Durgin. The extra point was no good, but the Panthers had regained the lead, 13-8, with 8:40 left to go in the game.
From there the Pine Prairie defense held Port Barre scoreless to pick up the victory..