RandyJohnson

Yes...that's where he went to HS. He coached for a number of years at Gilmer as well. RJ

Pine Tree is lead by their Senior QB DJ Freeman. He's a 5'9" 160lb pure dual threat terror who's 49-80 passing for 845 yds with 12 TD's to NO Int's and 460 yds rushing with 7 TD's. The overall key thing is that the Pirates are winning by running the ball effectively averaging 270 rushing ypg and are simply controlling the LOS. They also have played virtually turnover free as evidenced by a +7 in the TO ratio category. Defensively, PT is a veteran group that have played well at times and have shown flashes of being able to play shut down on this side of the ball. What they lack in overall consistantcy they have made up for it in their improved team speed. RJ

As TrenchWarrior09 mentioned, the Pirates traveled to 4A Kennedale (also undefeated) and their Stadium lights malfunctioned in & before halftime with the game tied at 10-10. So there you have it. RJ

The last time PT was undefeated this far along in a season was 1990. PT started that season 5-0 then finished 6-4. I believe you'd have to go back to 1976 or 1977 to find when the Pirates were undefeated through 6 games. It has been quite awhile for sure RJ

This is probably THE top matchup in East Texas this week and no topic for discussion as of yet ? Not going to post any kind of "pick'em poll" here as just about everyone would pick the Tigers. Simply wanted to start a post to get some "talk" about this 9-5A D-II game going !?! I'll get it started with the matchup of PT's Offense against Texas High's Defense. The Pirates average 40 points & 410 ypg. Meanwhile, the Tigers have the top ranked defense in the District. RJ

Texas High

Mount Pleasant

For those that would like to follow along then here's tonight's game link on YouTube. https://youtu.be/s5a2HLXByIE

Well "those" you spoke with really weren't paying very close attention then. While it wasn't a large score disparity it wasn't really that close of a call especially statistically. Marshall never took a snap in the Red Zone...not a single offensive snap inside PT's 20 yardline. They scored on their 2nd offensive play on a 44 yd pass then fumbled at the end of a potential scoring play that PT stripped near the goal line in the 4th quarter. That's it as the Pirate defense really shut down the Mavericks. PT rolled up 360 yds vs. Marshall's 175 yards of offense. Marshall went 2-11 on 3rd down and PT had a nearly 2-1 advantage in TOP. Give credit where it's due. Because it was every bit of a 3 score defeat. RJ

If Pine Tree can continue to play relatively mistake free offensively paired with the more aggressive and inspired defense showing up this season then this game shouldn't be that close. Of course, we know this is a high school football season that's already had a few surprises. Pine Tree takes this one by a few scores...imo. R.J.

Pine Tree 55 Princeton 30...Final

Pine Tree 34 Princeton 24... Halftime

The 2020 season gets underway with the Princeton Panthers visiting the Pine Tree Pirates. The YouTube link is available below for game action. Kickoff is at 7pm. Thank you and enjoy ! RJ https://youtu.be/AUfEjbaviaQ

Link: Pine Tree Pirate Football on YouTube. Or go to PTISD.org for link on this page too. (See "Pirate logo" on that page!) RJ

Yes. I'll have some "semblance" of a stream. Unfortunately, I have no Tyler information and can't see any numerals on the Lions jerseys from the Pressbox here at the stadium. It will be what we have with mostly PT information since we do the call of Pine Tree Pirate Football. We'll be on shortly. RJ

The Pine Tree Pirates have revamped their entire non-district schedule. All three prior Class 4A opponents (Liberty Eylau, Lindale & Kilgore) have obviously had to be released. Three Class 5A schools have been added. Two Class 5A D-II's in Princeton and Crandall as well a class 5A D-I Wylie East are now on the Pirates schedule. I'll forward any further information if any changes are needed. RJ

Here's the Pine Tree Pirates "revised" 2020 Football Schedule : 9/18... vs. John Tyler (scrimmage) 9/25...vs. Princeton 10/2...@ Crandall 10/9...BYE 10/16...@ Wylie East 10/23...@ Marshall * 10/30...vs. Nacogdoches* 11/6...vs. Jacksonville* 11/13...@ Texas High* 11/20...vs. Whitehouse* 11/27...@ Mt. Pleasant* 12/4...vs. Hallsville* *....Denotes District 9-5A D-II games. Jacksonville is Homecoming. I'll update any further possible changes if needed. RJ

Pine Tree returns 8 offensive and 8 defensive starters back along the District Champion JV added to the mix. THE key for the Pirates is IF they can improve on defense ? QB DJ Freeman is almost certainly the Pre-Season favorite for District MVP or argueably one of the leading candidates. I'd have to say PT should be considered the dark horse to contend with Marshall and Texas High. RJ

Congratulations to my great longtime friends ! The Smoak's will definitely lend instant credibility to SicEm365 Radio !! R.J.

The author (Andrea Widburg) of the "American Thinker" article (posted here-in) is clearly not very "up-to-date" that practically every product manufacturer in this country doesn't simply allow "disgruntled ex-employees" on the premises because of workplace violence. In other words, they have security measures in place such as " security guarded gates" and company issued ID cards, etc. This killer was STILL an "active" employee as numerous other media outlets have mentioned The article is on the mark otherwise, however Ms. Widburg either received incorrect information OR is simply ignorant/out of touch with this reality !

Here's the Pine Tree Pirates 2020 Football Schedule... 8/27...@ Liberty-Eylau 9/4...@ Lindale 9/11...vs. Kilgore 9/18...BYE 9/25...@ Marshall * 10/2...vs. Nacogdoches* 10/9...vs. Jacksonville* 10/16...@ Texas High* 10/23...vs. Whitehouse* 10/30...@ Mt. Pleasant* 11/6...vs. Hallsville* *...Denotes 9-5A D-II District games. Also...the Liberty-Eylau game will be the "KYKX Game of the Week" in Texarkana on Thursday August 27,2020. Jacksonville is HC. I'll give my predictions sometime this Spring. R.J.

FWIW...Y.A. Tittle was born in October 1926. So he clearly didn't play football for Marshall until the early 1940's. Nice article and find on that Marshall dynasty !

Not going to be Huffstickler. His next move will be out of teaching & coaching all together...just going by what he told me last fall guys. (ie. retirement from this profession). R.J.

Pine Tree will return 8 Offensive and 8 Defensive starters and an Undefeated JV (in District play) for the upcoming 2020 Season. They do lose TWO stud WR's (not 3) in Sparkman and Adams with only one OL to graduation (J. Key). They'll be "loaded" by their standards and certainly within their own football history. The QB (Freeman) passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for another 1,000 yards during the 2019 season...he returns. Their RB (Sheffield) also returns with his 1,000 yard plus 2019 season. The Defense will be the key to the 2020 success (or failure) but with 8 starters and a very good JV Defense on the way it's rather easy to see that the Pirates will definitely be a play-off calibur team in 2020. Furthermore, I think Coach Lane remains at PT with the future bright and what he along with his Staff are building. R.J.

Coach Lane isn't leaving Pine Tree...in my ever so humble opinion. He's in the midst of building something there as some real football talent is finally blooming in Old Greggton (West Longview). I'd be mildly surprised if he did (as he seems to be a man of his word) BUT then again who could blame him IF he's the one picked ? That is all ! R.J.