SILSBEE —  SILSBEE — The Silsbee Tigers needed two points for the win. Port Neches-Groves only needed on great defensive play.

  Silsbee rebounded from a 21-6 deficit to pull to within one at 21-20 with 38 seconds left. The extra point pass attempt failed, ensuring the Indians a season-opening win.

  “Of course, they’re going for the win,” said PN-G Coach Brandon Faircloth. “That forced the game down to one play. We were able to stay inside their slant route they had run earlier in the game and our corner made a great play on the ball.”

  The Tigers followed a renewed momentum into the final moments of the game, pulling to within a point when Kendrick Scott bulled his way in from the one yard line. After both teams called time-outs, the Tigers went to the line and quarterback Patrick Reed lofted a pass to the left corner of the end zone. The PN-G corner defended the play perfectly, ensuring the Tribe a win.

  “They’re a great team,” Faircloth said. “Every game we’re in is going to be a close one and it’s going to be a battle. Here in Silsbee, no one is going to come over here and beat up on them.”

  The Indians, who face West Orange-Stark at the Reservation next Friday night, brought a home-field advantage with them, packing the visitor’s side with a sea of purple and white.

  With that support, and a sharp passing game, the Indians were able to take a seemingly dominating first-half lead with two rushing touchdowns for a 14-0 advantage.

  A.J. Smith crossed the goal line from five yards out, capping a seven-play, 50-yard drive. After Marlon Rodriguez booted the PAT, the Indians led 7-0. PN-G worked the ball down the field at the start of the second quarter, finishing a 13-play, 68-yard drive with a four-yard run by Jeremiah Rose.

  Key to those scoring drives were several slant passes with receivers Tim Clopton and Rose coming up with critical gainers to keep those Indian drives alive. Clopton finished the night as the Indians’ top receiver, grabbing seven catches for 71 yards. Rose had five for 46 yards.

  Smith finished 17-of-33 for 168 yards and a touchdown in his first start. That aerial TD came in the third quarter when Smith connected with Clopton from 20 yards out. Leading 21-6 at that point, it appeared the Indians were well in control.

  “We had success in the first half throwing that slant route and they were able to make some adjustments on that in the second half,” Faircloth said. “We ran the ball a little bit more, ran it to the outside, but we were also able to stay with the pass plays that were working for us in the first half.”

  Silsbee offered a more balanced offensive attack, collecting 101 yards rushing and 185 yards passing. Hard-running Floyd Spearman finished with 14 carries for 51 yards while Reed had 11 totes for 35. Read finished with 12 of 32 passes for 139 yards. His top receiver was Jordan Holmes with five catches for 96 yards.

  The Tigers' second-half comeback materialized after Zayon Jackson hauled in a 13-yard TD pass at the end of the third quarter, with Montana Garcia's pass reception accounting for the two-point conversion. Trailing 21-14, Silsbee marched 80 yards in 11 plays with Kendrick Scott's TD run setting up the last-second attempt at a win.