Vidor can seal spot with win over Lions

[Bobcatfan4life]

[b]Vidor can seal spot with win over Lions

Gabriel Pruett
The Orange Leader

VIDOR —[/b] So Vidor’s season has come down to this.

The Pirates (6-3, 3-3) control their own playoff destiny and can clinch the team’s first playoff berth with a win tonight at Pirates Stadium against the Livingston Lions.

The Lions hold a 4-2-1 lead in the all-time series with the Lions getting a 31-6 victory in the first game between the two schools in 1948. Livingston defeated Vidor 42-35 last year.

“This is what you play for right here,” Vidor coach Jeff Mathews said. “If you would have asked the question, I would have told 10 ten weeks ago if we were playing to get in the playoffs on the final week I would have said lets do it.”

The Pirates put themselves in this position by losing last week to Nederland 22-20. If Vidor would have won that game, the Pirates would already be in the playoffs.

“We are in a situation where we control our own destiny,” Mathews said. “We win and we are in. That is a lot better situation than where we were a year ago. What matters now is the team in front of us.”

The Lions team standing in front of the Pirates is a formidable Lions team which is also clinging to playoff hopes.

The Lions are in with a win over the Pirates and a Lumberton loss to Nederland.

Livingston comes into tonight’s game with the third-best offense in District 20-4A while averaging 319.4 yards a contest.

Livingston running back Quinton Jackson is the second leading runner in the district with 1,345 yards and 17 touchdowns. PN-G’s Caleb Harmon leads all 20-4A rushers with 1,464 yards and 15 scores.

“Jackson is simply phenomenal,” Mathews said. “We are going to try to contain him which will not be an easy task.”

The Pirates defense comes into the game third in the district with an average of 265.4 yards given up a game.

Vidor’s offense has been especially potent this season, averaging 384.7 a game which is first in the district. Livingston is next to last in total defense, allowing 326.2 a game.

Senior running back Shayne Pitman leads the Pirates with 1,261 yards and 14 touchdowns while Kevin Tate ha 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jacob Peevey, who has missed some time over the last few weeks, has 520 yards and five scores. Jacob Travis has filled in nicely with 111 yards on 11 carries with three trips to the endzone.

“We are looking for Peevey to play on defense this week and maybe some on offense,” Mathews said. “Both Jakes are certainly going to help against Livingston. We feel we have four good running backs. Of course the Lions will try to take Shayne out of the game. We feel we are well-rounded football team and the try field could help a little bit. I have not had to give too many motivational speeches this week. I look for our guys to play hard. It is a little nerve-wracking but this is what you play the game for.”