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.