Pine is on the road tonight to begin the 2015 campaign, as the Raiders take on the Pearl River Rebels.
The Raiders begin this season after a year when they captured their first playoff game in football history. It was a 28-20 victory over St. Helena College & Career Academy in the bi-district round of the Class 2A postseason.
Last week, Pine tied Albany, 14-14, in the Live Oak Jamboree.
The Raiders put up two touchdowns last week, with Adarrius Berry rushing for both scores.
“We were happy, especially with the offense,” Pine coach Bradley Seal said. “We felt like they got on the right track.”
Seal said Berry and the offensive linemen were key last week.
“The offensive line got a good push all night,” Seal said. “Late in the game, Albany began crowding the line, but we were still able to run the ball.”
Quarterback Joey Seal completed two of his five pass attempts for 35 yards.
Defensively, Seal said safety Chris Gordon and linebacker Tate Roach played well.
Seal also praised his defensive unit on its play.
“I thought we played good,” he said. “Late in the game, we gave up a touchdown, but overall, I thought our performance was where it needed to be.”
Pearl River begins this week after falling to Slidell, 35-0, in the Northshore Jamboree.
Mike LaBourdette, who is in his first year as the Rebels’ head coach, takes over a team that has struggled over the last five years.
“Obviously, we’re taking over a program that has won five games in the last five years,” he said. “We’ve got about 45 kids this year and we’re just trying to get a little better each day and see what happens.”
Offensively, Pearl River runs plays out of multiple formations. The quarterback is Justin Dean and LaBourdette likes to rotate running backs Jace Littleton and Ladarius Wilford.
“We’re going to be a ground and pound team,” LaBourdette said. “We’re going to have to run behind the big guys up front.”
Kenny Stewart and Al Dauth are the receivers.
Defensively, the Rebels are a 4-3 group, and LaBourdette said one of their top players is lineman Rudy Crawford.
Tonight’s game is being broadcasted on the Lake 94.7 FM, with Pete Vicknair and Shane Maddox calling the action.