L'MARION HUNTER

PALESTINE – After going a stretch of 42 years without compiling a nine-win season, the Pine Tree Pirates are making a habit of it now.

La’Marion Hunter scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter Friday, and the Pirates rolled to a 35-7 win over the Palestine Wildcats to close out the regular season on a rainy night at Wildcat Stadium.

The win moves the Pirates to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in District 9-4A Division I play heading into the postseason.

Pine Tree has had 10-win seasons in 1938, 1950 and 1976, and won nine games in 1974 and 1977 before not winning that many games again until finishing 9-2-1 in 2020.

Four years later, the Pirates have reached that number again.

“I’m excited for the kids,” said Pirate head coach Jason Bachman, who has led the team to finishes of 2-8, 6-5 and now 9-1 (and counting). “I told them to look back and remember where we started and where we are now. We ran a lot of sophomores out there two years ago and went 2-8, but we asked the kids to buy in, to see the vision and to show up and work. Now, fast forward and we’re 9-1.”

There is little time to celebrate.

“I’m proud of the leadership, but it’s like we’ve told them all year, we’re going to wake up 0-0 tomorrow and get back to work. We’ll celebrate tonight, but we’re only guaranteed one more so we need to get back to work.”

The Pirates will host a first-round playoff game next Friday at Pirate Stadium against either Bridge City or Huffman-Hargrave.

Hunter’s two touchdowns in the opening quarter Friday were really all the Pirates needed. He scored on runs of 5 yards at the 10:16 mark and 49 yards with 1:43 left in the quarter to make it 14-0.

After a scoreless second quarter, Roger Attaway raced in from 5 yards out with 9:14 remaining in the third to make it a 21-0 contest.

Ja’Karius Timmons scored on runs of 15 and 3 yards in the fourth quarter for the Pirates, who allowed just one Palestine TD – an 8-yard run by B.J. Walker.

Taibran Homer intercepted a pass for the Pirates on the final play of the game.