PAnews.com, Port Arthur, Texas

Sports

Discussion

May 22, 2009

White team edges Purple, 28-21

Regardless, Indians win spring game

By Tom Halliburton

PORT NECHES – When Blake Brooks was asked to identify the biggest Indians’ football change since last season, the Port Neches-Groves outside linebacker concisely replied, “Everything.”

Pretty much “everything” was on display under the lights Friday night on the new Reservation. And if you weren’t pretty much amazed by this PN-G spring football game, you pretty much need to schedule an eye or a head exam.

Just three days removed from baseball season, Indians junior pass receiver Spencer DeRon leaped over the back of two defenders in the end zone to catch a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brennan Doty with 41.8 seconds to play to lift the White team over the Purple team 28-21.

Regardless of the outcome, DeRon grabbed five passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns and served notice that he belonged among the area’s premier receivers.

Regardless of the outcome, Brandon Faircloth and his energetic staff have really transformed this program during a vibrant eight-week stretch of off-season followed by spring practice.

It’s impossible to dispute that PN-G has changed its mindset enormously with an efficient head coach who has captured the undivided attention of its 2009 football candidates. Those candidates concluded spring practice fully confident on Friday night that they could seize the District 20-4A football championship in Faircloth’s very first year.

“The last three weeks have been tough,” returning junior running back Caleb Harmon said. “There’s been a lot of learning but everything’s been fun. Tonight was our reward for it.

“Attitude has been the biggest thing – from having a positive attitude both in the classroom and on the field. That attitude has raised us from way down here to higher than we’ve ever been here.”

Harmon ran six times for 40 yards for the victorious white team. Junior runner Cody Ross dashed for 149 yards on 16 carries for the purple side. The margin of victory probably hinged on DeRon and battery mate Doty, who completed 19 of 26 with one interception and four touchdowns for the white team.

Purple team quarterback Matt Desmond produced for his unit both as a passer and a runner. Desmond hit 6 of 14 passes with one interception for 62 yards, while running 15 times for 64 yards and three running touchdowns.

Those numbers mean a lot less to Faircloth than the effort and overall performance which he saw.

“I’m very pleased with our performance,” the new Indians’ chief said. “The kids did a great job under the lights. We’re finding some players and we’ve built a great foundation. But this is just a beginning. We have to continue to work hard during the summer and have a great two-a-days (which starts Aug. 10).”

Those hundreds of PN-G fans enjoyed the view with the band striking up ‘Cherokee’ near mid-season form. And the Indians triumphed on their home turf for the first time, no matter what.

“We’ve really gotten a lot better as a team,” linebacker Brooks reflected on the spring work. “It’s a complete change for the good around here.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Super Bowl 46-1stQ-05.JPG SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI The New York Giants won their fourth NFL championship Sunday in Indianapolis, scoring in the final minute to defeat New England 21-17.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ford tough leader for young Titans

    February 8, 2012

  • James, Lamb lead LU romp over Demons

    February 8, 2012

  • Seahawks overcome player shortage, win easily

    Matt Cross wondered Wednesday whether Lamar Port Arthur’s basketball team had enough healthy players available to face Kilgore College.
    The Lamar State program literally was falling apart before head coach Cross’ eyes. The game clock didn’t work. The players were dropping like Lakeshore mosquitoes.
    Point guard Derrick Dawkins had crutches after sustaining a knee injury Saturday. Wing man Elton Roy missed last Saturday’s game with a knee sprain. Opposite wing Eldridge Moore was hobbled by an ankle sprain. Power man Jayon James was sick with bronchitis. Post man Elijah Pittman seemed out of sorts too.
    “I’m only about 75 percent,” said the Seahawks third-year coach after canceling a lunch appointment.
    It got worse at the start of this 75-50 victory in Carl Parker Center before life improved any on the good ship Seahawk.
    Playmaker deluxe Brandon Peters said he was “hit in the mouth” by a Kilgore player’s shoulder.
    “I’m going to have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning,” Peters said, shaking his head. “The guy knocked my teeth all the way back.”
    Battered and beaten to a pulp, the Seahawks (especially Peters) proved that basketball definitely is played above the shoulders, too.
    More than anything else, Lamar State simply relaxed and rebounded. And rebounded some more.
    The Seahawks crashed the boards in a way that they have not pounded them in a couple of weeks. They knocked home seven three-pointers and welcomed a special addition to their star of the game show. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, meet Lakeem Duncan.
    “We asked one person to step up in practice with Derrick going to the doctor tomorrow (Thursday) and Lakeem did,” his head coach Cross said.
    Duncan led the way with 16 points and backcourt buddy Shondel Stewart added 15. Peters changed jerseys (to 32 from his usual 23) after losing blood from being hit in the mouth. Peters had 11 points and 8 boards. Roy patiently treated his wounded knee all weekend with ice and also scored 11. Bum ankle or not, Moore managed 10 boards and 8 points.
    And a clean shaven head coach smiled afterwards after every one in Seahawk Nation told him that his team needed to rebound better. After Trinity Valley outrebounded Lamar State by seven on Saturday, the Seahawks returned to work and captured the backboard battle on this night, 33-22.
    “I thought we rebounded the ball well consistently,” Cross said. “We’re still No. 1 in our conference and if we can get everybody healthy, we can still have a very good chance to defend our championship.”
    Parker Center’s game clock has been malfunctioning for the past three home games and it had a way of really dictating a lot about this game. The game officials had to frequently counsel Kilgore head coach Brian Hoberecht about the clock and its unpredictable nature.
    A very good indicator of Seahawks prosperity arrived eight minutes into this one when Roy penetrated on a weave and dished out to Moore in the left corner. The 6-5 sophomore knocked home a three-pointer for a 15-8 Lamar State lead. Kilgore never got within five points the rest of the game.
    Another telltale moment developed right before the half when Roy missed a jumper, but followed his own shot on a layup to give the Seabirds a 36-19 cushion. Kilgore never got closer than 10 after that.
    Lamar State (18-5 and 10-2) will welcome all the support in Baytown that it can receive on Saturday night. The Seahawks visit Lee College that night at 7:30 p.m.

    February 8, 2012

  • LU to honor Gilligan as distinguished alumnus

    February 7, 2012

  • Fans can vote for Mike James as dunker

    February 7, 2012

  • LSC-PA seeks to rebound from home loss

    February 7, 2012

  • LU hosts Demons in SLC East showdown

    February 7, 2012

  • Stroud's putting improvement reason for optimism

    February 7, 2012

  • Henry, Williams lead Port Arthur Memorial into playoffs

    February 6, 2012