The Pine Raiders football team took a big homecoming victory over their cross parish rivals, the Varnado Wildcats. The win moves the Raiders record to 4-1 on the season and they will begin district action Friday at home against the Albany Hornets who are currently 2-3.
The Raiders scored first to go up 7-0 early in the game before the Raiders added to their score when Kade Knight caught a pass and ran it in from 69 yards out for a 14-0 lead at the 2:44 mark of the first. They added to that lead when Brayon Thomas caught a five yard pass from Trey Knight for a 21-0 lead.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard late in the first half when they passed for a 83 yard touchdown at the 2:44 mark of the second period. The two point conversion was good and the score was 21-8.
The Raiders answered immediately as they returned the kickoff for a touchdown and a 28-8 lead, which would be the halftime score.
The Raiders opened the scoring in the second half with a 30 yard strike from Knight to Delvonta Gardner for a 35-8 score. Coach Seal sent in the reserves after this and Cooper Thomas scored on a one yard run to make the score 42-8 with 6:39 left in the third. Braxton Newman scored from a yard out at the 4:32 mark of the third to go up 48-8 after the missed extra point. Brayon Thomas ran in a 27 yard touchdown with 3:12 left in the game for the final of 55-8.
Coach Bradley Seal like what he saw from his team. "I was happy with the way we started fast on offense and our defense continued to play well. Now, we move into district and face Albany next week. Albany always plays physical and we need to have a good week of practice."
--- See additional Pine Homecoming photos in this week's edition of The Era-Leader
