Pine Prairie opens on road at Bunkie

Revenge will be on the minds of the Pine Prairie Panthers, as they travel to Bunkie tomorrow night to face off against the Avoyelles Parish version of the Panthers. Last season Pine Prairie lost to Bunkie 48-14, but this year Panther head coach Yves Prince is hoping to reverse that outcome and get off to a quick start in 2016. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
“If we can get that first win of the season, it will go a long way to giving us the confidence we need to carry us through the non-district schedule,” said Prince. “The win over Ville Platte in the jamboree was big for us. I know it was only a jamboree, but we have never won a jamboree in school history. Our effort against Ville Platte was tremendous and I just hope we can carry that over to tomorrow night.”
In the jamboree, the new veer offense, recently installed in the offseason, seemed to payoff for Pine Prairie in the early part of the game. The Panthers were able to move the ball 50 yards for an opening drive touchdown. Prince was pleased with what he saw in Pine Prairie’s offensive unit.
“Our offensive line did a really good job of executing up front,” stated Prince. “I was impressed with the play of our quarterback, BJ Ardoin. He did not turn the ball over, which is the way to manage the game. JJ Sims at running back did a tremendous job. All around I would say that we moved the ball most of the game.”
Although the Panther offense made things happen on the ground, they had trouble getting it going in the air. This is an area that Prince intends to address.
“We will have to be more effective throwing the ball,” commented Prince. “It will take some more timing between the quarterback and receivers. That is something we can work on in practice.”
Pine Prairie will get their chance to continue unveiling their offensive scheme this week against Bunkie. But, it may be the defense that will need to hold off a relatively athletic Bunkie squad. In the jamboree, the Panther defense showed a bend but don’t break defense as Ville Platte did manage to penetrate the 25-yard line on two occassions.
As far as the opposing Panthers go, Prince knows it will take an all out effort from his team to pick up that ever important first win.
“Bunkie is a solid team,” said Prince. “They are athletic and big. Their quarterback is the man for them, but I think he will be out with an injury. It still doesn’t matter, if we can take the jamboree momentum and use that in tomorrow’s game, I think we will be alright.”