Panthers carrying momentum on trip to Vinton

What is the best way for a football team to forget a tough loss? How about beating your parish rival? That is exactly what Pine Prairie did Friday night, as the Panthers garnered a huge win over the Mamou Demons 24-6. Coming off of a loss to East Beauregard, no one knew how Pine Prairie would come out against the Demons. Obviously, the Panthers still had a bitter taste in their mouths and were looking to exact revenge on their next opponent. The victory over Mamou gives Pine Prairie a 2-1 record going into the next game against the Vinton Lions. Most importantly, it matches the most wins in the history of Panther football. Game time in Vinton is set for 7 p.m.
“We are very excited about the position we are in now,” said an excited Panther Head Coach Yves Prince. “It gives our kids some huge confidence. If we can pick up another win or two before district starts, it would continue the momentum we have now.”
The Panthers were able to get their run game going against the Demons. Pine Prairie earned 167 yards on the ground Friday night. Running back Douglas Fontenot was a key part of the rushing department as he totaled 139 yards on seven carries for an astounding 19.9 yards per carry average.
“Our offensive line did a solid job of run blocking. The backs ran hard. We had moved personnel on the offensive line during the week and it paid off for us. The only negative was that as well as we were able to block on running plays, it looked like we forgot how to pass block. We are still looking to put guys in positions to be successful. We may still move guys around until we find the best formula for a solid offense.”
The Panther defense did an exceptional job in carrying out the game plan. Going into the contest, Coach Prince and his staff had one goal in mind on defense; stop the Demon’s passing game. Pine Prairie limited Mamou to 40 yards of passing on just seven completions and intercepted a pass for a 97 yard touchdown. “Our defensive backs really came through for us,” commented Prince. “We count on those guys in the secondary because they have a lot of experience. But, what really impressed me was the play of our defensive line. They kept pressure on their quarterback all game long. If we keep playing the way we are on defense, I think we will be okay for the rest of the season.”
The Panthers will need to keep the momentum going on Friday as they face a tough Vinton Lion football team. The class 2A Lions are 2-1 on the season, beating Abbeville 35-0 in week one and Merryville 42-12 in week three. Their only loss is to Elton by the score of 32-28. “They are a solid football team,” said Prince. “They run the ball effectively out of the wing-T set. They have improved a lot over the last few years. We will need to try to play well on the road. It is going to be a tough game.”
Pine Prairie needs to be more consistent on offense if they hope to continue the momentum gained in the victory over Mamou. Another solid defensive performance gives the Panthers some much needed confidence. One thing the Panthers must do in order to be considered a solid football team is to win on the road. Friday night will give them the opportunity to mature and prove their worth against another sound opponent.