Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison left no doubts about the future of the quarterback position with his Titans.

Kadon Harrison is going to be a three-year starter when the Titans face Panama City (Florida) Bay at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Thomas Center in Beaumont.

“Kadon is our starter,” Kenny Harrison said Thursday. “I’ve been impressed with his maturity level so far. He has really improved since last year.”

Kadon did not play a full season last year due to a knee injury suffered in District 21-6A play. He led the Titans with 839 yards on 65 of 125 passing with six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Junior De’Andre Angelle saw snaps under center and so did sophomore Keitha Jones.

The chance to have a three-year starter this season was too much to pass up for Kenny Harrison.

“Kadon has really started to show intensity,” Harrison said. “He knows it is his senior year and wants to put the team on his back.”

The Titans are coming off back-to-back 3-7 seasons and this year benefit with a move down to Class 5A. It is a switch coach Harrison and the Titans are excited about for several years.

“The kids are eager to play in front of some hometown fans each week,” Harrison added. “There will be fewer trips to Houston for district games. We want to build some local rivalries with the teams in our 5A district.”

Memorial is lumped in the district with Port Neches-Groves, Nederland, Lumberton, Vidor, Ozen, Central, Baytown Lee and Livingston.

“It will be nice to play in front of some pack stands and not have to drive to Houston so many times in a year,” Harrison added.

Memorial has never played PNG or Nederland since the school opened in 2002.

The last time PNG played a Port Arthur team was in 2001 when the Indians fell to the Lincoln Bumblebees 45-13. PNG lost to Thomas Jefferson that same year, 28-21.

Nederland fell to Lincoln in 2001, 42-8, and defeated TJ, 36-7.

The Titans are also looking to replace standout running back Kameron Martin. He rushed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

“We have a group of about four guys who will be competing for the spot,” Harrison said. “We have been fortunate to have a couple of great backs over the last few years in Corey [Dauphine] and Kameron. The guys we have coming up are aware of how important that position is and they are working hard to carry on what Kam and Corey started.”

Kadon Harrison does have weapons returning, especially in Angelle. He caught a team-high 32 passes for 496 yards last year with five touchdowns. Rickey Thomas and highly recruited defensive back Kary Vincent Jr. each caught five passes last year.

Vincent led the district with six interceptions. He picked up his 28th college offer last week when Florida State reached out to him.

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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe