PN-G cruises past Beaumont United on the road

Published 10:54 pm Friday, September 6, 2024

By Daucy Crizer, Special to the News

BEAUMONT – Behind the usually strong running game and stingy defense, Port Neches-Groves cruised to a 45-14 win over Beaumont United in non-district football action Friday night at Doggett Family Stadium.

“Anytime you win, it’s good,” said PN-G coach Jeff Joseph. “I think we played with a little more energy and a little more aggressiveness early in the game. Bue, we have to learn how to play with a lead, stay aggressive in those moments, and put away people.”

The Indians rushed for 248 yards with Blair Chatagnier the leading ground gainer with 162 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Tyson Henry added 52 yards on 11 carries.

Connor Bailey completed 6 of 12 passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored twice on the ground. London Nunley had two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Layden Williams hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass and Chris Diaz added a 33-yard touchdown reception.

“We got set up with some short fields, and the wind had something to do with that, and we did a much better job of covering kicks and forced a few three-and-outs,” said Joseph. “Our offensive line did a good job of moving people and opening some creases for our running backs, who ran really hard. Connor (Bailey) made a couple of good throws early in the game to open things up for us a little bit. We have to be more consistent in the passing game and we know that.”

Trailing 35-0 to start the third quarter, United finally broke through with a scoring drive. Rapheal Deshotel connected with Ashton Henry for a 16-yard completion on third-and-five to keep the drive going. Deshotel hit Tatein Calhoon for a 19-yard touchdown to make the score 35-7 with 6:27 left in the third quarter.

PN-G responded with a scoring drive of its own. Chatagnier carried the ball five times for 49 yards on the drive, the last of which was for 13 yards to the United 1. Bailey scored on a 1-yard sneak to make the score 42-7 with :10 left in the third quarter.

The Timberwolves Ashton Henry fumbled after a 10-yard completion, which was recovered by the Indians Joey Latiolais at the United 17. The good field position resulted in a 43-yard field goal by Fernando DeLeon to put the Indians up 45-7.

United closed out the scoring on an 80-yard touchdown run by Dei’sean Hope with 4:36 left in the game to make the score 45-14.

PN-G jumped all over United with three touchdowns in the first quarter and scored on all five possessions they had in the first half en route to a 35-0 halftime lead.

After the Indians defense forced a quick three-and-out on United’s first possession, the PN-G offense went to work. Taking over at the Timberwolves 42, it was a steady diet of Chatagnier on the ground. He opened the drive with five straight carries.

Following an incompletion, Chatagnier rushed for six yards to give the Indians first-and-goal. Two plays later, Bailey connected with Layden Williams on a 4-yard touchdown pass to give PN-G a 7-0 lead with 6:00 left in the first quarter.

Another three-and-out by the Timberwolves and a 9-yard punt following a high snap gave the Indians good field position at the United 33.

After Chatagnier was stopped for a 1-yard loss, he followed with a 34-yard touchdown run to put the Indians up 14-0 with 2:51 left in the opening quarter.

Once again, PN-G’s defense stymied the United offense, and the Indians took over at the Timberwolves 33 to start their next drive.

That drive lasted only one play as Bailey hit Chris Diaz on a 33-yard scoring strike to push the lead to 21-0 with :50 left in the quarter.

It was more of the same for PN-G in the second quarter. The Indians returned to the ground game on their next scoring drive. Chatagnier started the drive with an 11-yard run. Bailey capped the drive with a 3-yard quarterback keeper to extend the Indians lead to 28-0 with 7:09 left in the second quarter.

United’s offense showed some spark on its next possession. Rapheal Deshotel hit Joshua Johnson for a 6-yard completion to open the drive. Deshotel connected with Asthon Henry on a 31-yard completion to their own 37. The drive stalled with three straight incompletions and the Timberwolves were forced to punt.

Starting a drive in their own territory for the first time at the 26, the Indians closed out the first half scoring with a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Bailey hit London Nunley for 11-yards on third-and-nine to keep the drive alive.

Tyson Henry followed with a 10-yard run. Facing a third-and-20, Henry ripped off a 24-yard run to the United 38. Bailey hit Jude Gohlke for a 24-yard completion to the 14. Bailey followed with a 14-yard scoring strike to Nunley to give the Indians a 35-0 lead heading into the locker room.

THE PLAY OF THE GAME WAS…
There were quite a few big plays, but I’ll go with back-to-back offensive plays that flexed the Indians muscle in the first quarter. First was Blair Chatagnier’s 34-yard touchdown run and, on the Indians, next offensive play, Connor Bailey hit Chris Diaz for a 33-yard scoring strike that put PN-G up 21-0.

THE GAME BALL GOES TO…
Senior Blair Chatagnier who rushed for a game-high 162 yards on 21 carries with one touchdown.

KEY STATS…
Dei’sean Hope rushed three times for 89 yards and a touchdown to pace United. Raphael Deshotel completed 16 of 26 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. Ashton Henry had six catches for 81 yards and Tatein Calhoon had three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.

UP NEXT…
After opening the season with two straight road games, PN-G finally hosts a home game next Friday when LaPorte visits The Reservation for a 7 p.m. kickoff. United plays at Aldine Nimitz next Saturday at 6 p.m.