By Tom Halliburton
PORT NECHES -- What a costume this D.J. Schexnider wears... it's rather amazing.
A junior monster-looking defender for the Port Neches-Groves football bidistrict champions, D.J. just looks as if he's The Incredible Hulk.
Brenham really will examine video of this defensive end and the Cubs coaches and players will think Schexnider will have to be a real, large, huge guy.
"I guess I've got some pretty big pads that I wear," said the 6-1, 185-pound little brother of Texas State University sophomore Zeke Schexnider.
A few words came from the 17-year-old son of Donnie and Karen Schexnider but not too many. That's fine, though. As long as Schexnider stops perimeter runs, contains and pressures perimeter rollout activity from quarterbacks with his recent excellence, his performance on the field does enough talking.
Schexnider humbly thinks he's gotten better at defensive left end, but that's an understatement. A junior varsity player as a sophomore, D.J. never set incredibly lofty goals for himself. He never planned to be under consideration for the Port Arthur News Super Team.
D.J. never even entered pre-season practice with the slightest assurance of receiving that much playing time.
"I was hoping that I would start," Schexnider recalled.
Schexnider opened the year as an outside linebacker in PN-G's first meeting with Barbers Hill. He backed up Blake Brooks and received minutes in a reserve role. His name on the tackle chart for that season opener contained a blank line. Two tackles and a sack followed against Crosby. Five first contacts and two assists filled game three's chart against Texas City.
D.J. gradually was becoming a more visible player but the Indians coaching staff was thinking he was out of position. Defensive coordinator Duane Kroeker had changed D.J. to the defensive line before district games started.
It did not turn into an automatic perfect fit but the Indians' defense automatically improved.
"I would rather be a down (lineman) because I don't have as much responsibility as I do at outside linebacker," Schexnider said.
Defensive line coach Mike Arnaud noticed the difference in the Indians' defense probably sooner than most observers.
"Our defense got a lot better when we moved him from outside linebacker to defensive end," Arnaud said.
It was almost as if PN-G was able to add an extra guy because D.J. was able to shed blockers with his size and rush passers on the edge with range and quickness. When he removes his purple No. 33 jersey, the Indians' coaches are still wondering where that size is.
Kroeker believed the outstanding instruction of Arnaud helped to improve technical phases of D.J.'s game.
"We knew D.J. had a motor but we were concerned about his defensive line technique and taking care of his responsibilities," Kroeker said. "He was a pseudo outside linebacker. He was more of an old school defensive end and we were bringing him off the edge a lot."
Although it was the second meeting with Barbers Hill last Friday in Baytown, D.J. introduced himself to his 4A bidistrict opponent quite prominently in the rematch -- seven solo tackles, three sacks, two assists, and one forced fumble. Barbers Hill liked to roll little quarterback Matthew Viverette out of the pocket. When Barbers Hill went that direction, Schexnider went that direction, too. He frequently spoiled the Eagles' plans.
Schexnider made his impact felt against Central too, collecting six solos, two assists and three hits on Jaguars QB Donte Wilkerson. A week earlier D.J. worked over Ozen QB Charles Durio for four sacks, five solos and five quarterback hits.
He's quiet when he's on the field, too. D.J. lets the purple and white fans make all the noise after he makes the plays.
Indians Playoff Inklings
Senior cornerback Aaron Brandom topped the bidistrict tackle chart with eight solos and two assists, followed by Schexnider (7 and 2) and ILB Christian Kerr (6 and 6).... Two prominent defensive lineman are being treated for pulled groin injuries but are considered probable to play on Friday... Senior Dallas Davis and junior Christian Shetley are clear to practice but are receiving treatments. Davis originally injured his groin at Central and received limited playing time last week. Davis is regarded as day-to-day by trainers Ricardo "Rico" Serna and Nic "The Quick" Tanner... Shetley has been nursing a tender groin and returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time in two weeks.... No new injuries resulted from the bidistrict outing.... Early morning ticket purchasers crowded around the PNGISD administrative office and less than 1,000 of PN-G's 4,500 ticket allotment remained available by noon. PNGISD ticket manager Becky Romero said the supply dwindled to approximately 525 remaining tickets at PN-G as of Tuesday at 4 p.m.... As of Tuesday, the lone live media coverage of Brenham vs. PN-G is KCOL-FM 92.5, the regular radio home for Indians football. The internet videostream for the game will be available by noon Saturday on panews.com with KCOL's broadcast on audio. Golden tones of Joe Arnold and Paul Brown shall provide the play-by-play and commentary....
