PAnews.com, Port Arthur, Texas

Sports

Discussion

May 29, 2009

Titans start slowly, finish sharper as Whites win 27-20

By Tom Halliburton

  Maybe they felt awkward at first against their teammates, but it took Memorial's football players most of a half to really put their game in a more competitive gear.

  Perhaps it was the 90-degree weather. Maybe the band needed to play the fight song a hundred times. Who knows why?

  Whatever the case, Titans first-year head coach Kenny Harrison chose to have the Titans play five 12-minute quarters instead of four and make up for their that sluggish start on Friday night.

  After the White team finally overcame the Black team 27-20 on the PAISD auxiliary field, most Titans fans got their fill of spring football. They saw a Memorial team that came an encouraging distance during these four weeks of spring practice.

  The Titans admittedly were not in the physical shape to hang with powerhouse District 21-5A opening foe, Galena Park North Shore. They're not close in conditioning to where they want to be for their Aug. 22 scrimmage at Port Neches-Groves.

  But if a young, patched-up offensive line can change from a weak spot and turn into a strength, Memorial certainly can produce some 5A post-season excitement with this coaching staff.

  "We still have some work to do," Harrison humbly acknowledged. "We have a lot of young kids and we have some confidence that we need to develop over the summer time. But we have to work on coming ready to play. We have to start the game with the same intensity as we finish it."

  Harrison saw an absence of that rock-hard intensity at 6:55. The Titans picked it up more in the second half, especially with the leadership of Black team senior-to-be linebacker Earl Hines, a legit Big 12-level recruit.

  Only a 34-yard scoring lob from Corwin Keal to K'Sean Wesley in the final minute of the opening quarter could prevent a scoreless first half for both sides. One thing Harrison had to like about the second half boiled down to the 1-2 backfield running tandem of seniors-to-be Ronzell King and Daleon Sinette. As well as Memorial figures to throw, and as capable as that running duo can be, Kenny's squad may evolve into a strong, successful team if it can develop in the offensive line and the kicking game.

  Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Tony Brown saw his secondary pick off three interceptions in the spring game. Brown installed a new defense designed to pressure the quarterback more. The spunky former Converse Judson and Beaumont Central assistant also spearheaded an enthusiastic off-season program before this month.

  "Kenny (Harrison) had a lot of weight on his shoulders when I got here," Brown said. "The guys were hungry for success. We put in a new (defensive) scheme and they have accepted everything I've thrown at them. We're not actually blitzing as much as we're bringing zone pressure from different angles. We're gap-sound and we've got kids that can run."

  Keal and fellow passer Stedman Haynes felt some of that pressure, but the offense came with weapons, too.

  "I think we did a great job of putting pressure on the quarterback," Hines said after a steady seven-tackle outing.

  His offensive counterpart, Keal, threw an interception to Black team defensive back Torian Hillman on the night's very first snap. Keal threw for 187 yards, running for one touchdown and passing for two more. Competing with both a black and a white jersey at times, Keal was 16 of 21 and pleased overall with his remarkable evolution during this month.

  "I ran track this spring and got faster," Keal said. "I have improved my footwork and my accuracy has really improved. We're making great progress. We need to eliminate penalties and dropped balls, if we do, we're unstoppable."

  Haynes also wore both jersey colors, completing 7 of 12 for 112 yards, throwing for a score and running for another.

  King ran 10 times for 80 yards and caught three passes for 100 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown toss from Haynes.

  Sinette ran for 35 and gave an indication of his ability to display an occasional lightning bolt in the open field.

  Hines threw up an enormous defensive stand one time on the south end goal line when Haynes tried to sneak it in behind his line.

  "We're working to get to the next level," Hines said. "We never have days off because he (Harrison) wants us to be the best."

  The work continues with a considerable need to improve conditioning all summer long.



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