PORT NECHES — Quarterback Roschon Johnson rushed for 258 yards and five touchdowns as Port Neches-Groves beat Nederland 34-21 in the Bum Phillips Bowl at The Reservation on Friday.

The victory gave PNG (7-3, 6-1) a share of the of the District 12-5A Division II title along with the Bulldogs (9-1, 6-1). The win also gave PNG the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Both teams punted on their opening drives before the offenses started rolling. On the Bulldogs’ second drive, Nederland drove 80 yards on 15 plays before quarterback Blaysin Fernandez carried the ball in for a score from 3 yards out. Down 7-0 with 11:27 left in the second quarter, PNG put together a long drive of their own. On the second play of the drive, Johnson broke free for a 37-yard gain, which put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

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With the drive on the line, Johnson converted a fourth down on an 8-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7-7 with 5:44 left in the first half.

Each team only had three possessions in the first half with both scoring drives taking up a combined 13 minutes.

Johnson had 103 yards rushing in the first half on 14 carries. The Bulldogs had 103 yards rushing in the first half, lead by Fernandez’s 46 yards on nine carries.

 

The game changed when …

After a pair of Johnson scores, the Indians lead Nederland 20-7. With a chance to make it a one-score game Tyler Jackson got his hands on a Fernandez pass to give the Indians the ball at the Nederland 44 with 1:45 left in the third.

On the next play, Johnson dashed into the end zone, breaking multiple tackles to make the score 27-7 with just over 1 minute left in the third.

Both teams traded scores before Nederland added another with a 30-yard pass from Fernandez to Carson Arline.

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The game ball goes to …

Johnson, who earlier in the week said he wanted his final Bum Phillips Bowl to be special, and it was. Johnson rushed in all five of PNG’s touchdowns. Johnson also had 93 yards through the air on 8-of-18 passing.

Defensive back Tyler Jackson also had a huge game with two interceptions that turned into scores by the Indian offense.

 

Next up …

Both teams will host a playoff game at their home stadiums.

 

Indians 34, Bulldogs 21

Nederland 0 7 0 14 — 21

Port Neches-Groves 0 7 20 7 — 34

  

Second quarter

NED — Blaysin Fernandez 3 run (Payne Barrow kick), 11:22

PNG — Roschon Johnson 8 run (Mario Oceguera kick), 5:44

 

Third quarter

PNG — Johnson 7 run (Oceguera kick), 7:43

PNG — Johnson 11 run (kick fail), 4:55

PNG — Johnson 44 run (Oceguera kick), 1:45

 

Fourth quarter

NED — Fernandez 11 run (Barrow kick), 10:09

PNG — Johnson 14 run (Oceguera kick), 6:11

NED — Carson Arline 30 pass from Fernandez (Barrow kick), 1:43

 

Ned PNG

Rushes-yards 34-175 38-262

Passing yards 126 93

Total yards 301 355

Comp-Att-Int 13-23-2 8-18-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 4-40 3-15

 

Individual leaders

RUSHING — Nederland: Fernandez 18-105, Josh Mazyck 9-38, Arline 1-14, Armani Douglas 2-9, Kydon Fuselier 1-5, Adam Roccaforte 3-4. Port Neches-Groves: Johnson 35-258, Jaylan Williams 3-4.

PASSING — Nederland: Fernandez 13-22-2, 126; Douglas 0-1-0, 0. Port Neches-Groves: Johnson 8-18-0, 93.

RECEIVING —Nederland: Blayne Burnett 5-51, Arline 2-33, Brycen Grusecki 3-32, Landon Hiltz 2-11 Douglas 1-(-1). Port Neches-Groves: Kaleb Wuenschel 6-75, Jose Ceja 2-18.