Pine Tree's Paul Bonamy Is The ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player Of The Week

Don't look now, but Pine Tree is back from the dead and in position to make a late-season playoff push following its 0-6 start.

The Pirates are on a two-game winning streak, own fourth place in District 16-5A and now should have some confidence after scratching out a 22-17 win Friday against a Hallsville team that was tied for first place in the league.

A lot of credit goes to senior free safety Paul Bonamy. He recorded 20 tackles and recovered a fumble in the one-possession victory and is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week.

Bonamy's huge night elevated him to 73 tackles and two fumble recoveries on the season. Area coaches are still sending in their Week 8 stats, but the performance probably made the safety a top 100 tackler in the area.

Pine Tree (2-6, 2-2), which has not reached the postseason since 2001, just might accomplish the feat with first-year head coach Kerry Lane.

It will be an uphill battle, however, due to earlier losses to Sulphur Springs and Mount Pleasant and the toughest final two-game stretch of any district team after this week's open date. Marshall and unbeaten Texas High are awaiting the team.

Sulphur Springs has the most favorable playoff outlook among teams on the bubble despite its 1-2 league record. It has three games remaining and only its finale against Hallsville has an unfavorable outlook.

Mount Pleasant, which is 1-3 in the standings, could ultimately surpass Pine Tree with an upset win Friday against Sulphur Springs and a final win against a Greenville team still seeking its first district win.

But the Pirates own the high ground into this week's slate of games thanks in large part to Bonamy's performance. They're two upset wins away from the playoffs if they can also get some help from other district rivals.