PORT NECHES — There is no success at Port Neches-Groves without the play of a group of guys who hardly ever gets their name in the newspaper.
Adam Morse does not set passing records and Kody Cropper can’t pick up yards without the performance of the Indians offensive line.
Junior Jim Hauck and senior Kyle Ardoin lead the group for PN-G (9-2) into Friday’s 7:30 p.m. area round playoff contest against Angleton (6-5).
“This is a great moment for them to be talked about,” PN-G coach Brandon Faircloth said. “Nobody else gets their name in the paper without them. They are the reason Caisen (Sullivan), Jack (Giblin), Kody (Cropper) and Jace (Runnels) do all the things they do. Our line is the unsung hero of our team. They might be unsung to people outside our program but they are loved in our program. We have a big love for them and they make us go. It warms my heart to talk about our offensive line. They are the key.”
The offensive line also consists of Justice Langston, Tyler Moran, JP McDonald Josh Hranicky and Zachary Murdock. Zach Bass and Peter Medlock coach the offensive line. This is the second year for Ardoin to be starting on the offensive line. He has enjoyed working with the younger players this year as a senior.
“We have a lot of potential coming up on our line,” Ardoin said. “It is great working with them and seeing how much they have improved this year.
“It was very important for us to win a share of the district title and to get past the first round. It is the first time in a long time. We have made history this year as a football team and I have been very proud of everyone.”
Hauck said he is also very proud of his teammates for reaching the second round. PN-G had not made it past the first round since 2010.
“It feels great,” Hauck said. “It has been the best feeling in the world. Last Friday really just felt like another game with a little more pressure. I think we handled it well as a team.
“We enjoy being on the line. It is a lot of work but we really love it. We get our credit when Kody and all those guys put up stats. That is what we enjoy.”
Ardoin does not want his senior year to be over and help guide the Indians into the third round.
“We are going to have to get a push off the ball against Angleton,” Ardoin added. “They have a pretty big and strong defensive line.”
Ardoin and his lineman teammates have not given up a sack on Morse since the Indians played West Orange-Stark on Sept. 4.