Memorial’s rushing attack has been too hot for defenses to handle, as is the case traditionally.

But one won’t find Port Arthur’s version of the “Hot Boys” in the backfield.

“It’s how we play,” senior right tackle Jose Fourquet said. “We’ve got swag, we’re big dudes, so they call us ‘Hot Boys.’”

Senior running back JaVontae’ Hopkins, primarily a standout at cornerback, broke the 200-yard rushing mark before halftime Saturday against Kingwood Park and finished with 217 yards on 19 carries in a blowout victory. One of Hopkins’ three touchdowns went for 95 yards, with another covering 54 yards.

Hopkins referred to the offensive line as the “Hot Boys” after Lil’ Wayne’s rap group. The Titans’ backfield, which usually features sophomore Branden Chaney, garnered 1,644 rushing yards through eight games, second only to New Caney’s 2,149 in District 9-5A Division I.

The Titans’ front line has sprung ball carriers free while jelling under first-year head coach Brian Morgan and first-year offensive coordinator Zach Bass, who coaches the line.

“They’ve been asked to learn a bunch of new stuff, new techniques,” Morgan said.

“You can see every week, they’re continuing to get better and play harder. They’re getting a little more confident and faster. It kind of allows the run game to be consistent. You give a guy like JB [Hopkins] the ball in his hands, [and] he just needs a little bit of a crease.”

Morgan said Chaney, who’s been out with an undisclosed injury the past two games, could be back Friday night when Memorial (7-1, 4-1 in 9-5A-I) hosts Houston Wisdom (1-7, 0-5) for senior night.

Blake and Fourquet are confident the Titans won’t overlook the struggling Generals in what Fourquet calls “the last ride” on the Memorial Stadium turf. Wisdom, renamed after educator Margaret Long Wisdom from Robert E. Lee High School in 2016, hasn’t won since beating Houston Cristo Rey Jesuit 31-6 on Sept. 13.

“I just feel like we kept on being strong, like we kept on working together, so we got better,” Fourquet said, asked how the offensive line has jelled.

The Titans are the highest-scoring team in the district with 204 points (New Caney has 203) but fourth in total offense at 349.8 yards per game. Hopkins’ performance Saturday improved his rushing clip to 9.36 yards per carry, to go with Chaney’s 6.04 per tote and nine touchdowns on the season.

“We just play with a little bit of pace,” Morgan said. “I think that time of possession gives a false sense of whether you’re successful or not. That’s just not what we’re based on. It’s a whole lot easier to call plays when there’s big plays. You don’t have to call 10 good plays in a row.”
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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews