Demons, Panthers square off with hopes of second win

The Mamou Green Demons and the Pine Prairie Panthers square off Friday with more than bragging rights on the line. Both teams come into this inter-parish rivalry game 1-1. A win by either team would go a long way to putting together a successful season and put the winner above .500 for the first time this season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Pine Prairie.
“After the game, somebody will be 2-1 and somebody will be 1-2,” stated Pine Prairie Head Coach Yves Prince. “Hopefully, we will be 2-1. If we can win this game, we will have matched the most wins in school history. That would be big for this program. Our kids have been working really hard this season. If we can come away with a victory, our confidence level would be raised tremendously.”
Mamou Head Coach Brian Brumfield agrees wholeheartedly. “Winning this game would be a big confidence booster for our team,” said Brumfield. “We are starting to believe in ourselves and we are starting to believe we are a good football team. To win back-to-back games would be awesome for our players.”
Both schools have taken different routes to their respective 1-1 records. Mamou lost its opening game to Pickering by the score of 38-6. Last week, the Demons bounced back and controlled South Cameron in a 33-7 win.
Pine Prairie took an exciting 12-6 overtime victory against North Central in week one. Friday night against East Beauregard, the Panthers could not manage much offense in the 14-0 loss. Pine Prairie could only muster 79 yards of total offense against East Beauregard. Of the 79 total yards, 32 of those were through the air. Leading the way on the ground was Dylan Doucet, who carried the ball nine times for 23 yards. Doucet was also four of eight passing. Leading receiver for the Panthers was Javon Ardoin, who had three catches for 28 yards. Defensively, the Panthers gave up 327 total yards to the Trojans. East Beauregard had 248 yards on the ground.
“We played hard against East Beauregard,” said Prince. “Offensively, we moved the ball at times, but just couldn’t finish our drives. Our quarterback was off a little Friday night. We are still trying to get the offense to be more consistent. We just need to start getting everyone on the right page during the game. I thought our defense did a tremendous job against a team that likes to pound the football. Our defense had to stay on the field for 30 minutes during the game. When the game is only 48 minutes long, that’s tough to do; especially when you have a number of people going both ways. Still, our defense carried out the game plan.”
Mamou, on the other hand, had little trouble in its victory over the South Cameron Tarpons. The Demons racked up 263 yards of total offense. The passing game was really efficient as Dylan Duplechin and Robbie Deshotel combined for 187 yards on 12 completions out of 15 attempts. Leading rusher for the Demons was Dylan Duplechin, who carried the ball three times for 31 yards. Paul Williams led all receivers with four catches for 94 yards. Defensively, Mamou held South Cameron to 116 yards of total offense, intercepting two passes and recovering two fumbles.
“We have been preaching at practice about catching the football more consistently,” commented Brumfield. “It paid off for us against South Cameron. Our receivers did a good job of catching the ball. Because we were successful in the passing game, it opened up our running game. Both Dylan Duplechin and Robbie Deshotel played extremely well at quarterback. Defensively, we finally began tackling like I had hoped. Our defensive backs did a tremendous job of breaking on balls thrown in their direction and it resulted in two interceptions. We have to continue to play fundamental football if we want to stay on a winning path.”
Going into the contest, each head coach has the utmost respect for the other’s ball clubs. “It will be a good game Friday,” stated Prince. “I have a lot of respect for what coach Brumfield is trying to do over there. In terms of trying to turn a program around, we are basically mirror images. Their quarterback is really athletic. Our defense will have to continue playing well against them. Defensively, they play hard and attack the football. If we can put some points on the board, I think we will be OK. I hope a lot of people come out to the game.” Brumfield reciprocated Prince’s statement. “We are right down the road from each other and have played some exciting games over the past few years,” said Brumfield. “I think coach Prince and his staff are going in the right direction. They coach those guys up. I saw them play against Basile in the jamboree and they looked good. We will have to contain their athletes if we want to win Friday. They can beat you on any play. I am hoping that we can play a complete game. If we do that, we have a chance.”
To say that either team has the advantage Friday night would not be prudent. To say each team needs a win to bolster its confidence would be an understatement. Each team brings their own brand of football into the game.
Whichever team is able to impose its will on the other, probably wins the game. There is one undeniable fact; a 2-1 record is riding on the outcome.