PINE PRAIRIE -- It was a rocky start to the 2020 football season for the Pine Prairie Panthers, as they fell to the Beau Chene Gators 50-6 Thursday night.
The Panthers, whose squad is made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, stayed in stride with the Gators in the first quarter of play but could not sustain any type of momentum following that initial period.
Beau Chene put up the first points of the night, scoring on their first drive of the contest. Following a nice opening kick-off return to the Pine Prairie 49-yard line, the Gators wasted no time in taking the ball into the end zone.
Needing only three plays, Beau Chene quarterback Jhaki Sharp hit wide out Laine Arnold in the corner of the end zone from three yards out to notch the first six points of the game. Roy Whaley, Jr. added the extra point, and, with just 29 seconds gone in the first quarter, the Gators led 7-0.
Pine Prairie’s first possession of the game began at its 25-yard line. The Panthers, utilizing the running skills of Elijah George, drove down to the Beau Chene 38-yard line in nine plays. However, the Pine Prairie offense stalled, forcing a Panther punt.
The Gators took over at their 12-yard line and continued to operate efficiently on the offensive side of the ball. Relying on the legs of junior running back Russell Wheeler, Beau Chene reached the Panther 16-yard line in just five plays.
On the seventh play of the drive, the Pine Prairie defense stood up and forced Sharp to cough up the football. The Panthers fell on the ball and took over at their 12-yard line.
The best drive of the night for Pine Prairie took place on its next possession. The combination of George’s ability to get outside on a couple of buck sweep runs and a pass interference call on the Gators gave the Panthers a first-and-goal situation at the Beau Chene three-yard line.
Three plays later, quarterback Branson Fontenot hit Josiah Ortis on a slant route that netted nine yards and a touchdown. The extra point was no good, however the Panthers had cut the led down to one, 7-6, with five seconds left in the first quarter.
From that point on, the Gators took control of the game, thanks in part to four breakdowns on special teams and a miscue on offense.
The first breakdown from the Pine Prairie special teams allowed Wheeler to race 78 yards basically untouched down the left sideline for the ensuing kickoff return score. The extra point was tacked on by Whaley, Jr., and Beau Chene extended the lead to 14-6 just seven seconds into the second quarter.
The second breakdown came on the kickoff. Whaley’s boot traveled to the 23-yard line where the Pine Prairie returners failed to get to the football. The Gators pounced on the pigskin at that spot to begin their next drive.
The Panther defense held stiff, forcing a fourth-and-seven situation. Beau Chene lined up to attempt a 37-yard field goal, but the snap was botched.
Place holder, Carson Taylor, picked up the ball, scrambled to his left and found Treylin Jones in the middle of a pack. Jones broke free from the pack and raced 20 yards to the goal line for the score. The extra point was good and with 9:01 to go in the second quarter, the Gators led 21-6
A fumble on the next Panther possession allowed the Gators to recover the ball at the Pine Prairie 40-yard line. Seven plays later, Wheeler found paydirt once again when he slashed his way into the end zone from three yards out. With the extra point, Beau Chene now led 28-6,
Pine Prairie’s next possession did not go well. After a touchback the Panthers began their next drive at their 20-yard line. With no movement by the offense, Pine Prairie was forced to punt the ball away.
A bad snap caused punter Wyatt Welch to try and recover the ball in the end zone. Instead, Welch punched the ball out of the back of the end zone for the safety and a 30-6 lead for the Gators. Beau Chene would score once more in the second quarter when Sharp connected with Arnold on a seven yard touchdown pass. The Gators picked up two more scores, once in the third quarter and once in the fourth quarter; both on Wheeler runs.
The Panthers were led on the ground by George who toted the ball 11 times for 83 yards.
Fontenot ended the night 11 for 17 passing for 76 yards and one touchdown. Ortis gathered in four catches for 57 yards and a score.
Wheeler picked up 156 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Sharp was 11 for 17 through the air for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
Arnold had five catches for 28 yards.
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Tracey Jagneaux
Sports Editor