PORT NECHES — Gone are the days of Caisen Sullivan making one-handed grabs for the Port Neches-Groves Indians.

PNG sophomore quarterback Roschon Johnson is also without the big body of Jack Giblin to throw to this year.

The Indians cupboard of receivers took a big hit due to graduation from last year but it is not bare.

PNG returns seniors Keynel McZeal and Dylan McGough to go with junior Preston Riggs.

McZeal, a Texas A&M commit, is the leading returner at the postion with 18 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. He missed several games as a junior with a wrist injury.
McGough stepped up in place of McZeal and hauled in 16 receptions for 285 yards and two scores.

The group will try to replace District 22-5A’s two leading receivers a year ago. Lamar freshman Sullivan had 58 receptions for 747 yards last year and 13 scores for PNG last year and UTSA freshman Giblin finished with 46 catches for 655 yards and eight touchdowns.

“Jack and Caisen were big parts of our team,” McGough said. “We need to step up where those guys left off. You always want to live up to the guys before you and then leave something for the guys behind you. We all learned a lot from Caisen and Jack.”

Coach Brandon Faircloth is also excited to what Riggs can do. Riggs played on the junior varsity team last year.

“We lost a lot but we bring back a lot of experience at the same time at receiver,” Faircloth said. “Keynel was hurt last year but scored several touchdowns and Dylan did a great job last year and also scored for us.”

The beauty of these PNG receivers is their size. McZeal is the biggest and is listed at 6-4, 225 pounds by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

“With big targets, there is room for error,” Faircloth said.

“Keynel is a freak,” McGough added. “There have been a couple times where I wasn’t sure a pass from Roschon could be caught and he (McZeal) will grab it with one hand. It is fun to watch.”

McGough said he learned a lot as a junior who saw significant action after McZeal’s injury.

“The biggest thing I learned was you always have to be ready,” McGough said. “You never know when your number is going to be called. I went into the year thinking I was going to be the No. 4 receiver and then he (McZeal) went down with a freak injury. It just proves you have to take every practice serious.”

The offensive side of the ball put in a lot of work over the summer. Johnson worked with his receivers and running backs once school was out and leading up to last Monday’s first day of fall practice.

“All those receivers are really active and play other sports,” Faircloth said. McZeal and Hughes are members of the track team, McGough plays baseball and Riggs is an all-district soccer player.

The Indians get their first crack at live action this Friday at 7 p.m. at The Reservation against West Orange-Stark in a scrimmage. The two teams decided to play a four-quarter style scrimmage without a live kicking game.

“Coach Faircloth reminded us if a team comes to our house then it is a game,” McGough added. “Friday will be a good test for us. The Mustangs have a lot of guys back off that state championship team. We will definitely see what we have.”

Faircloth echoed the remarks of McGough.

“Coach (Cornel) Thompson said it best that these scrimmages are glorified practices,” Faircloth said. “We are going to be tested quick. West Orange-Stark is going to show us what we need to work on. That is what is great about scrimmages. You don’t want to come out of those scrimmages with a sense of self-worth. We want the Mustangs to show us where we need to improve.”
•
Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe