Rewriting history

The last two years have been historic for the Pine Prairie Panthers. In 2014, the Panthers won three games for the first time since they began playing a varsity schedule.
This season, Pine Prairie is coming off of a three game win streak, another historic feat.
Now, the Panthers are hoping to add to the history books, as they look for their fourth win of the season against the Northwest Raiders Friday night.
The game will be played in Prairie Rhonde and is set for a 7 p.m. start.
“I just give thanks to God that we have been able to win three games in a row,” said an excited Panther head coach Yves Prince. “It was a great bus ride home this past Friday after we beat Tara. Winning three in a row gives our players some huge confidence as well as pumps up the community and the student body.”
“Our players and coaches have been working really hard this season to get to this point. But make no mistake, we are not satisfied. Our goal is to make the playoffs and contend in district.”
Against Tara High School this past Friday, the Panthers dominated the first quarter. But according to Prince, the team seemed to have a lapse in effort in the second quarter; something he took care of at halftime.
“We did not play with a lot of intensity in the second quarter against Tara, especially the offensive line,” stated Prince. “I went in at halftime and gave them an earful, something I have not had to do much this season. It must have worked, because we came out in the second half and played like I know we can.”
Once again the combination of Dylan Doucet and Douglas Fontenot was a difference maker in the game against Tara. Doucet rushed for 121 yards on 26 carries and four touchdowns. Fontenot carried the ball 24 times for 114 yards.
However, Prince knows as special as the duo are, if it were not for the guys up front, it would be a mute point to talk about their accomplishments this season.
“Our offensive line has done a tremendous job this year,” commented Prince. “They have really come into their own. And, our fullback Joshua Fontenot has also been a big part of our success on offense. Joshua is a real team player, a very unselfish player that gives everything he has.”
Success has also come because of the effort of the defense, but Prince points to an unlooked area that has been a key ingredient so far this season.
“Our special teams have been really good this year,” said Prince. “Teams are now kicking away from us because of our play in the return game. That is good for us because it usually gives us good field position.”
Pine Prairie will put their winning streak on the line in their first district game of the year against Northwest. Prince knows how important this up coming contest is for his team.
“This is a huge game for us,” stated Prince. “With a win, we not only will have four wins, but will be 1-0 in district and one step closer to the playoffs. Northwest is a solid team. They have a number of good athletes on offense and play hardnosed defense. We will have to play a mistake free game this week to come out on top.”
Northwest is 4-1 on the season, their only loss coming at the hands of North Vermilion. The Raiders average 38.8 points per game and allow 17.8 points per game on defense.
Northwest has two shutouts this year.