The loss was hard on Port Arthur Memorial, but it didn’t linger long.

“Just making sure our kids are mentally focused in practice starting on Monday, put the last game behind us and move forward,” coach Kenny Harrison said Thursday.

“We definitely emphasize that all our goals we set forward before the season are still in front of us,” Harrison said. “We just have to take care of business and stay focused.”

The loss at Port Neches-Groves did not put the Titans (4-1, 4-1 in 22-5A) out of the district race by any means. The No. 1 seed in the 5A Division I playoffs, for larger 5A schools, is still in their grasp, as PNG will likely be placed in the 5A Division II bracket.

“We’re really just putting everything behind us,” senior running back Elijah Hines said. “We’re focusing on the next game and going forward from there.”

Homecoming week might have been the perfect distraction for Memorial, which will crown its royalty on Friday when Livingston (0-5, 0-4) comes.

Memorial’s next two opponents — Livingston and Baytown Lee — are at the bottom of 22-5A standings, but Harrison cautioned Livingston is better than its record indicates.

“Livingston is a team that, when you watch them on film, their record does not indicate what type of football team they are,” Harrison said. “They play hard. They’re in a competitive, tough district, and it’s unfortunate things just haven’t gone their way. But, it’s like every other opponent. You’ve got to show up, week in and week out.”

The Lions have lost by double digits in each of their games, and their defense has given up more points in each outing. Their 58-36 loss at Baytown Lee last Friday marked their closest contest and highest-scoring game this season.

Both the Lions’ and Titans’ running backs rank among the top 10 in rushing in 22-5A, with Hines’ 590 yards ranking third. His 210 yards against PNG is his season high and reflects the continued jelling of the offensive line.

“The offensive line is always the toughest challenge of any football team because they have to jell,” Harrison said. “I feel really good about the direction and the job coach [T.K.] Harrison and coach [Jarrett] Thibodeaux have done with those guys.”

With a young offensive front, the Titans had to use their early district games to develop before heading into key stretch that included Nederland, Lumberton and PNG. The line sprung both Keitha Jones and Hines free in the ground game and protected Jones, who completed 12 of 16 passes for nearly 200 yards last Friday.

“We’re now four or five games under our belt, and you’re starting to see the football team we wanted to be, and that’s a balanced offense,” Harrison said.

This is the second straight week for 22-5A teams to play on Friday, but the first at Memorial Stadium. Just in time for homecoming.

“Being back on schedule is pretty cool, everybody out on Friday nights,” Hines said. “That’s what they’ve been waiting for the last couple of weeks.”
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews