PORT NECHES — A.J. Smith slid over from wide receiver to quarteback and had a hand in four touchdowns for Port Neches-Groves (2-2, 1-0) to help the Indians snap a two-game losing streak and win their first district game of the season, a 34-25 victory against Lumberton (0-4, 0-1) Friday night at The Reservation.

The Raiders took an early lead with two quick scores in the first quarter and used big plays to keep the game close. But penalties, mostly personal fouls, plagued Lumberton all night, and a dropped two-point conversion in the final minutes kept PN-G from losing its lead.

Trailing 27-19 in the fourth quarter, Lumberton defender Cody Koch recovered a PN-G fumble and returned it 55 yards to bring his team within two points of tying the game. The Raiders used a play-action pass on the two-point attempt, but a wide-open receiver dropped the ball.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lumberton was flagged for a personal foul, which put the Indians in Raider territory. Smith hit running back Tim Clopton for a 27-yard gain the next play and ran in for a three-yard score two snaps later to take the definitive lead.

Lumberton racked up 85 yards on nine foul calls, and the Raiders had four personal fouls (a fifth was offset by a PN-G foul).

“That’s what these games are,” PN-G coach Brandon Faircloth said. “It’s going to come down to the last minute, the last drive.”

Smith, who started the season as the Indians No. 1 QB,  returned to his old job mid-way through the second quarter after starter Ky Walker hurt his hand. Smith found the endzone twice before the half ended, including a 25-yard strike to wide receiver Jeremiah Rose with time expiring.

Walker was making the first start of his career after Smith was moved to wide receiver during the bye week. Faircloth said Walker might have a broken hand.

“I don’t know that you can script it worse than having your starting quarterback you just moved there to break his hand in the first quarter,” he said. “We don’t know for sure.”

Smith came into the game with the PN-G trailing 13-7 and marched the Indians down the field to retake the lead, 14-13, on a 17-yard run. PN-G would not lose the lead again.

“For A.J. to come in and play like that, I’m really proud of him,” Faircloth said.

The Indians scored first on a two-yard run by Walker after forcing a Lumberton punt to start the game. The Raiders responded immediately, however, with a 62-yard bomb to wide receiver Garret Bourque.

On its next possession, Lumberton scored on a 33-yard run by Bourque, who finished with 159 total yards and two touchdowns. Every Lumberton score was more than 30 yards.

“I give a lot of credit to Lumberton,” Faircloth said. “They played hard tonight.”

After a stalled drive and failed fourth-down attempt by the Raiders, PN-G got the ball back near its own 40-yard line with a minute remaining. Smith and the Indians picked up four first downs in seven plays, with all but one snap picking up double-digit yards.

PN-G caught Lumberton in a man-on-man blitz for the last play of the half, and Rose jumped over the top of the defender to give the Indians a 21-13 lead at halftime.

Defense dominated until the end of the third quarter, as both teams were stopped on fourth down to end their respective drives.

Another personal foul by Lumberton put PN-G in the red zone after a 35-yard end-around by Rose. Smith converted his third touchdown on fourth and goal to give the Indians a 27-13 lead.

The Raiders cut the lead to 27-19 in the fourth quarter with a 88-yard pass to wide receiver Taylor Trahan and forced the 51-yard fumble touchdown on the Indians’ next drive. Including the failed two-point conversion, Lumberton missed two extra point attempts.

“The thing I’m most proud of is we never gave up,” Faircloth said. “To us being down, then them having momentum, for our kids to keep battling was something I’m real proud of.”

Smith finished with 221 total yards and four touchdowns, including a ten-yard reception. Walker had 64 total yards and a score before leaving with the hand injury.

Rose lead Indians receivers with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and running back Spencer Wommack had 40 yards on 14 carries.

Bourque was Lumberton’s leading offensive player with 158 total yards and two touchdowns. He had six of the Raider’s seven catches.

Raider quarterback Drew Manley had 204 passing yards on just 10 attempts, and running back Josh Watson had 62 yards on 14 touches.

The Indians’ next two games are on the road. Faircloth said the first district win is always the hardest.

“You have to get on the board,” he said. “You have to move week to week trying to get another one. It’s a long season.”