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By DAUCY CRIZER

Special to the News

PORT NECHES – Port Neches-Groves scored three times in the first two minutes of the game and never looked back in breezing to a 57-14 win over Splendora in District 8-5A Division II action Friday night at The Reservation.

The Indians improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in district play and ran its winning streak to 21 straight games. It was also a Homecoming win. In pre-game festivities, Jaylen Ceja was announced as the Indian Sweetheart.

“We’ve played some strange games this year and this one was right up there,” said Joseph of the Indians jumping out to a 22-0 lead with only running one offensive play from scrimmage. “Our defensive kids made a couple of plays early and we busted a long pass on the first play of the game and the guys did a great job of blocking on the edge.

“It’s pretty nice and a luxury when you can jump out to an early lead like that and settle in and play pretty comfortable football the rest of the way.”

With both Blair Chatagnier and Tyson Henry out with some nagging injuries, it presented opportunities for Caden Naquin and J’Deah Jerry in the back field. Both were more than up to the challenge.

Naquin led all rushers with 208 yards rushing on 24 carries with two touchdowns. Terry carried 15 times for 73 yards. As a team, PNG rushed for 288 yards.

Connor Bailey played just the first half and completed 4 of 6 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Dawson Guidry played the entire second half at quarterback, completing his only pass for 18 yards. He also rushed five times for 16 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’re pretty banged up. The last two weeks were physical games, and we have some injuries at running back,” said Joseph. “We gave those guys (Naquin and Terry) an opportunity and we trusted them. Naquin is a good back. J’Deah is a tough kid, strong runner, and a very capable back. They practiced all week when the other kids were unable to, and they earned the right to be out there, and they showed what they are capable of.”

Splendora (2-4, 0-3) received the second half kickoff and advanced the ball into PNG territory. However, the drive stalled the Indians 43, and two straight incompletions resulted in the Wildcats turning the ball over on downs.

PNG took over and engineered a 12-play scoring drive. On third-and-12, Guidry hit Cameron Wilson for an 18-yard completion to the Splendora 30 to keep the drive alive. Guidry capped the drive with a 1-yard quarterback keeper to push the Indians lead to 50-7 with just :57 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs on their next possession at their own 39. PNG was unable to get anything going and on fourth-and-four, Guidry dropped back for a quick kick from the 33. His punt went straight up in the air and only advanced about 12 yards, but it brushed a Splendora player and was recovered by the Indians at the 25.

Naquin followed with a 12-yard run to the 13. Jerry carried for seven yards to the 4. Jerry took the handoff, fumbled and Guidry picked up the ball and scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 57-7 with 5:56 left in the game.

Splendora closed out the scoring when quarterback Brayden Hinton hit TJ Burch for a 22-yard touchdown with 2:02 remaining to provide the final margin of 57-14.

“Coach McDaniel and the defensive staff moved some kids around last week and we knew they (Splendora) was going to try and spread us out sideline to sideline and throw the ball,” said Joseph. “Our kids did a good job in coverage. When you can make two interceptions like we did in the first quarter, it changes the game. Those turnovers were huge for us and allowed our kids to play a little more free on defense the rest of the game.”

PNG received the opening kickoff and returned it out to its own 40. On the Indians very first play from scrimmage, Bailey hit London Nunley out in the left flat and he raced virtually untouched down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown to give PNG a quick 7-0 lead.

Then things got a little quirky. On Splendora’s third play from scrimmage, Hinton threw the ball out to the left. The receiver didn’t catch the ball, but it was ruled as a backward pass behind the line of scrimmage and Seth Brisboe scooped up the ball and raced 26 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good due to a bobbled snap to make the score 13-0 Indians.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Hinton rolled out to his left and tried to hit a receiver over the middle, but Mason Wuenschel jumped up, intercepted the pass, and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. That put the Indians up 20-0 with 10:14 left in the first quarter.

Splendora was forced to punt on its next drive, which was blocked and rolled out the back of the end zone for a safety. PNG’s lead was now 22-0 and the Indians had run just one offensive play from scrimmage.

The Indians ground game got rolling late in the first quarter. Naquin rushed three times for 43 yards and Jerry also had three totes for 28 yards. The drive was capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Bailey to Layden Williams to make the score 29-0.

Splendora’s Hinton was intercepted by Wuenschel, his second of the quarter, on the Wildcats next possession. Taking over at the Wildcats 45, PNG wasted little time in scoring again as Naquin took the handoff and raced up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown. That gave the Indians a 36-0 lead with :25 left in the first quarter.

Hinton was intercepted for a third time on the last play of the first quarter, this time by Dane Stewart. PNG followed with an 8-play scoring drive. Naquin closed out the drive with a 27-yard run to the 7 and then scored on a 7-yard TD run to push the lead to 43-0 with 8:06 left in the second quarter.

Splendora finally got on the board with a scoring drive of its own. Hinton hit TJ Burch on a 43-yard touchdown pass to make the score 43-7. Burch made a good play on the ball, taking it from the PNG defender as they were both going for the ball.

PNG was driving for another score before halftime, but Bailey was sacked for an 11-yard loss. Fernando DeLeon tried a 47-yard field goal as time expired, but the kick was a little short to leave the halftime score 43-7.

THE PLAY OF THE GAME WAS…
Mason Wuenschel’s 15-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. PNG had already scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass. Then Seth Brisboe returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown, so Wuenschel’s interception return put the Indians up three scores and let Splendora know it was going to be a long game.

THE GAME BALL GOES TO…
PNG’s Caden Naquin, who stepped into the starters roll at running back and led all rushers with 208 yards rushing on 24 carries with two touchdowns.

KEY STATS…
PNG have five different receivers catch one pass, led by London Nunley’s 60-yard TD reception on the game’s first play. Layden Williams also had a 6-yard TD reception. Splendora quarterback Brayden Hinton completed 12 of 27 passes for 178 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed six times for 47 yards. TJ Burch caught six passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

UP NEXT…
Port Neches-Groves hits the road for a game at newcomer West Fork, who is playing its first year of varsity football, next Friday at 7 p.m. Splendora returns home to host Montgomery next Friday (Oct. 18) at 7 p.m