Running wild

PINE PRAIRIE -- Behind JJ Sims’ three touchdown runs and a suffocating defense, the Pine Prairie Panthers improved to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in district play after a resounding 27-0 win over the Port Barre Red Devils here Friday night.
Pine Prairie will host intra-parish rival Mamou Thursday night in a district contest.
Sims, the talented senior running back, racked up 272 yards on 28 carries for the game behind dominating offensive line play. Defensively, the Panthers held the Red Devils to 82 total yards and six first downs the entire game.
“This was a big win for us tonight, especially it being the first home game of the season for us,” said an elated Pine Prairie head coach Yves Prince after the game. “Our big guys up front on offense were able to control the line of scrimmage most of the night.”
“That allowed JJ to do what he does best,” Prince continued. “But, I thought our defense was the main reason for the win tonight. We were able to contain their run game and stop them from what they do best.”
Pine Prairie received the opening kickoff, but could not cross the mid-field stripe. After an initial first down, the Panther drive stalled at the 45-yard line, forcing a punt.
Port Barre took over at their 26-yard line and drove the ball down to the Panther 40-yard line. But, facing a fourth and 12 situation, the Red Devils elected to punt the ball back to the Panthers.
Sims hauled in the punt at the 10-yard line and broke several tackles on his way to what seemed like a 90 yard touchdown return. However, a holding penalty on the play erased the scored and placed the ball on the Port Barre 29-yard line.
Two plays later, Sims took the ball over the right side and bulldozed his way over the goal line for the touchdown. Landon Johnson tacked on the extra point and with 2:43 left to go in the first quarter, the Panthers led 7-0.
The Red Devils mounted another drive on the ensuing possession, driving the ball 29 yards down to the Pine Prairie 36-yard line. Again, the Panther defense was called upon to stop the advance of Port Barre and they did, holding the Red Devils to no yards on fourth down and seven.
Pine Prairie needed the defensive unit quicker than they expected, as the Panthers fumbled the ball right back to Port Barre on the first play from scrimmage at their 36-yard line following the turn over on downs.
The Panther defense rose to the occasion once more, stuffing the Red Devils back to the 40-yard line in three plays. Port Barre was forced to punt and picked up a great roll off of the kick, pinning Pine Prairie back at their two-yard line.
Being backed up next to their goal line did not deter the Panthers. On the very first play from scrimmage, Sims busted through the middle of the Red Devil defensive front and raced 98 yards untouched for the score. Johnson tacked on the extra point, giving Pine Prairie a 14-0 lead with 9:16 to go in the second quarter.
A fumble by Port Barre on the first play following the kick off at their 26-yard line gave the Panthers excellent field position. Unfortunately, Pine Prairie could not produce much in the way of offense, turning the ball back over to Port Barre after failing to secure a first down on fourth and four from the 22-yard line.
However, it did not take the Panthers long to regain possession of the ball, as the Pine Prairie defense dropped the Red Devil offense back to the nine-yard line in three plays.
The Panthers took over on the Port Barre 30-yard line after a short punt. A 17 yard run on first down by Sims was followed by a four yard carry by Joel Franks, giving Pine Prairie a first and goal at the Red Devil nine-yard line.
A quarterback sneak by Peyton Ledoux covered the remaining yards for the touchdown; a play that would produce substantial yardage throughout the game. The extra point was wide right, but the Panthers had now extended their lead to 20-0 with 2:32 to go in the first half; a scored that would remain as the two teams headed into the locker room.
“When we looked at the film this week, we saw how they had lined up against Opelousas Catholic,” said Prince. “And, I knew that they were trying to stop JJ on the outside. So, we told Peyton that when he saw the two inside gaps open to take it himself. He made bad decisions a couple of times, but for the most part, he read it well. Because of that, they had to close down the defense and that allowed JJ to get loose on the outside.”
Not much happened offensively for either team throughout the majority of the third quarter. The Panters did get the ball back with a little over four minutes to go in the period a their 37-yard line.
Riding Sims the whole way, Pine Prairie traveled to the Port Barre seven-yard line in five plays. On first and goal from the seven, Sims plunged in over the right side of the line for the final score of the night. Johnson’s extra point attempt was true and with 27 seconds left in the third quarter, the Panthers held a commanding 27-0 lead.
Port Barre tried to mount one last drive about mid-way through the fourth quarter, reaching the Pine Prairie 15-yard line. However, as they had done all night long, the Panther defense stood tall and dropped quarterback Evan Hatten for a two yard loss on fourth and three.
Ledoux finished the night with 70 yards on 13 carries, while Franks ended the game with 19 yards on five carries.