Andre Flint came out of hiding last Friday in a big way.

The Pickering running back erupted for 226 yards and three touchdowns, including the winning score in the Red Devils’ first win of the season, and coach Lane Cook said Flint’s healthier ankle should help him continue that production.

“He’s had a nagging ankle injury since our scrimmage … but we expect him to be full strength from here on out,” Cook said. “The offensive line certainly stepped up and did a much better job opening holes, and he’s started seeing the holes when they’re there.”

Flint totaled 149 yards through Pickering’s first three games — losses to Jena, Merryville and Basile.

Flint is one of four senior starters for Pickering, so Cook said his presence is key to help the Red Devils mature as a team. Another senior returning from injury this week is linebacker Zach Wardlow, Cook said.

“I’m happy we won (against Vinton), but certainly also happy for (Flint) that he could put those numbers up in our first district game,” Cook said. “We’re in a tough, tough district. We need to continue to limit the number of mistakes as we grow up.”

Pickering has a tall task ahead this Friday when it travels to DeQuincy (2-2) for both teams’ second District 4-2A matchup.

Cook said DeQuincy’s potent offense stands to be a formidable challenge for the Pickering defense, which averages 25.25 points allowed per game. DeQuincy scores nearly 35 points per game on average.

“I really don’t know if anybody has counteracted DeQuincy’s offense,” Cook said. “If we can keep them off the field, we’ll have a good shot to win the ballgame — chew up as much clock as possible and keep the ball out of (DeQuincy quarterback) Jaleel (Bridges’) hands.”

East Beauregard head coach Randy Price also said his team’s best defense will be his offense when the Trojans take on undefeated Lake Arthur on the road.

East Beauregard (2-2) lost its first district game to DeQuincy last Friday after allowing 41 points to the Tigers. Bridges threw for 150 yards, and the running game also came alive with Patrick Dietz, who tallied a career-high 256 yards.

Price said his team still has some work to do to become a solid football team and that two wins is not enough to accomplish. The Trojans had one win last season.

“We won’t get respect unless we earn it,” Price said. “Our defense has been our Achilles’ heel. And we’ve run into a brick wall offensively the past couple of weeks. We had over 300 yards in our first two games, and the last two we were under 200. We had to throw more than I wanted to then.”

Lake Arthur’s unbeaten streak nearly ended last Friday against Rosepine, as the Eagles failed on a 2-point conversion run attempt at the end of the game. Lake Arthur coach Chad Lavergne said East Beauregard’s running game, led by Seth Shirley and Aaron Armstrong, is one weapon to be wary of.

“They’re very patient in running the ball and don’t make many mistakes,” Lavergne said. “A lot of times we try to do too much … we fumbled two snaps in the Rosepine game, which killed two drives. (East Beauregard’s) game plan is our game plan, and we look at it as a challenge.”