PNG runs past LaPorte, 49-35

Published 1:15 am Saturday, September 14, 2024

By DAUCY CRIZER, Special to the News

PORT NECHES – The one-two punch of running backs Blair Chatagnier and Tyson Henry was too much as Port Neches-Groves eased past LaPorte 49-35 in non-district football action Friday night at The Reservation.

“We won, and that’s the main objective,” said PNG coach Jeff Joseph after the game. “It wasn’t the prettiest game we’ve played. We were on our heels way too much in the first half. We had to change our mentality and change the way we called the game a little bit. We made some adjustments and attacked them a little more in the second half.

“We tackled very poorly and that’s something we’re going to have to clean up. We weren’t great at the point of attack on defense either. We’ll get that stuff fixed up in our open week and we’re going to half to really fast because we have two very good teams coming up after the open week.”

The Indians improved to 3-0 on the season and won for the 18th straight time dating back to last season and have a bye next week. PNG opens district play on Friday, Sept. 27 at home against Lake Creek.

Chatagnier rushed for 210 yards on 22 carries and had touchdown runs of 27 and 41 yards. Henry had 154 yards rushing on 14 carries, including a 76-yard TD run. PNG rushed for 365 yards.

“Offensively, we were very physical at the point of attack,” said Joseph. “They played aggressive, and Connor (Bailey) did a good job managing the game and made some throws we needed to make. Our backs ran hard and had some big creases to run through. They (LaPorte) are a good football team. They are tough and physical.”

Trailing 28-14, LaPorte received the second half kickoff. On the Bulldogs second play, Aiden Saenz had his screen pass deflected and the Indians Seth Brisboe intercepted the pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to extend PNG’s lead to 35-14 with 11:14 left in the third quarter.

That was just the start of a crazy third quarter that saw each team score twice. The Bulldogs responded with a scoring drive. Saenz hit Allijah Albright for a 34-yard completion and Ricky Sandolph scored on a 20-yard TD run to make the score 35-21.

Following a PNG punt, LaPorte put together another scoring drive. Saenz hit Peyton Smith for a 23-yard completion which was followed by a 35-yard run by Tyresse Barnes. Saenz connected with Barnes, who was diving for the goal line from 32 yards out when he fumbled. However, Ryker Reynolds recovered the fumble in the end zone for a Bulldogs touchdown to make the score 35-28 with 6:12 left in the third quarter.

PNG answered right back with Chatagnier capping six play drive, all on the ground, with a 27-yard touchdown run that included breaking multiple tackles. That put the Indians up 42-28 with 3:15 left in the third quarter.

The Indians put the game away on Chatagnier’s 41-yard touchdown run the gave PNG a 49-28 lead with just 4:07 left in the game.

The Bulldogs added a late score on a 2-yard TD run by Barnes to make the final score 49-35.

“We won the kicking game,” said Joseph. “We took care of the football, and we made some difference making plays in the kickoff return game. It wasn’t just Chris Diaz, the guys blocking for him opened some nice creases. Those guys on the return team take pride in their rolls and it shows.”

LaPorte (0-3) struck first on a 15-yard run by Barnes. He started the drive with a 44-yard run. Ricky Sandolph also carried the ball three times for 27 yards on the drive that gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 6:32 left in the first quarter.

PNG answered right back with a 10-play scoring drive. A big kickoff return by Chris Diaz set up the Indians with good field position at their own 48. Bailey hit Layden Williams for a 13-yard completion to the Bulldogs 7. Bailey capped the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:54 left in the game.

The Bulldogs had a promising drive thwarted on a Sandolph fumble, which was recovered by Brisboe at the Indians 24.

The Indians scored two plays later on a 76-yard touchdown run by Henry. That gave PNG a 14-7 lead with :39 left in the opening quarter.

LaPorte responded with another scoring drive of its own. Barnes had runs of 15 and 23 yards, the last of which was to the PNG 1. Sandolph scored three plays later to tie the game at 14-14 with 9:10 left in the second quarter.

PNG put together another lengthy scoring drive, this one covering 61 yards in 12 plays. Bailey hit London Nunley for a 9-yard completion sandwiched around four carries for 28 yards by Chatagnier. Bailey hit Williams for a 7-yard touchdown to give the Indians the lead at 21-14 with 3:10 left in the first half.

Barnes’ decided to return the ensuing kickoff from his own end zone, which turned out to be a bad decision as he was tackled at the 4. The poor field position led to a three-and-out and gave the Indians good field position at their own 43 with 1:47 left in the second quarter.

Chatagnier busted through the line of scrimmage and raced 47 yards to the Bulldogs 6. Chatagnier carried the ball for two yards to the 4 and again for two yards to the 1.

With no remaining timeouts, PNG scrambled to the line of scrimmage for a QB sneak by Bailey, who was stopped for no gain. With the clock still moving and down to the final ticks, Bailey took the snap and scored on his second sneak attempt with no time remaining on the game clock. That gave the Indians a 28-14 halftime lead.

THE PLAY OF THE GAME WAS…

PNG’s Seth Brisboe’s 22-yard interception return on the second play of the third quarter. That put the Indians up by three touchdowns at 35-14.

THE GAME BALL GOES TO…

Blair Chatagnier and Tyson Henry share the offensive game ball. Chatagnier rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns and Henry added 154 yards and one TD. The defensive game ball goes to Seth Brisboe who returned an interception for a touchdown, recovered a fumble, and had several pass breakups.

KEY STATS…

PNG’s Connor Bailey completed 8 of 14 passes for 62 yards. He also scored twice on quarterback sneaks. London Nunley caught four passes for 27 yards and Layden Williams had three catches for 26 yards and one TD. Tyresse Barnes led LaPorte with 243 yards rushing on 20 carries with two TDs. Ricky Sandolph added 62 yards on 12 carries and two TDs. Aiden Saenz completed 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards. Peyton Smith had two catches for 69 yards.

UP NEXT…

Port Neches-Groves has a bye next week before opening Class 5A-DII District-9 action against Lake Creek on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. from The Reservation. LaPorte also has a bye next week before opening district play on Friday, Sept. 27 with a 7 p.m. game at Friendswood.