Published 11:15 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2016, PANews.com
PORT NECHES — Not that long ago, Port Neches-Groves’ offensive line found itself in bad shape to start two-a-days.
Starting center Justice Langston was out following an appendectomy, and the coaching staff had to shuffle the linemen due to some injuries.
“We rolled into those two scrimmages way, way, way underhanded as far as who we thought was going to be starting for us this year,” o-line coach Peter Medlock said. “But those guys that played have got a ton of experience. A couple of the young guys have really played well for what we ask them to do. If you look at where we are now, it’s hard to believe it’s been three months.”
Three months later, PNG’s o-line has helped produce the third-most yards in District 22-5A, averaging nearly 400 yards per game.
“I think you win games with your offensive and defensive lines,” Indians head coach Brandon Faircloth said. “Our offensive line has really jelled together. Roschon [Johnson] and Preston [Hughes] had a great year running the ball behind them. They really protected Roschon in his passing game, and our defensive line has controlled the line of scrimmage. So, definitely, any successful team, if you look at them, they’re going to have good offensive and defensive lines. That’s the case with us this season.”
The Indians’ defensive front, including juniors Sergio Ayala and Logan Hammonds and seniors Vade Hammond, Jacob Brown and Luke Morris, have withstood battles against the best in the district as well and, on average, have kept their opponents to fewer than 300 total yards in an age where Spread offenses rack up the yards. Hammond and Brown share time at one of the ends with Hammonds inside and Morris at the other end.
“The d-line this year has done a really good job,” d-line coach Scott Carter said. “We’ve got some good kids up front. We’re senior-loaded up there. We’ve got some young kids who’ve stepped in as underclassmen doing a great job at nose [guard].”
But some of the lines’ most important battles take place in practice — between each other.
“The defensive line does a real good job with us,” offensive left guard J.P. McDonald said. “They put their best competition we have. Their best defensive line we can go against and prepare us for what we’re going against Friday night.”
Said Morris: “It’s always great going against our offensive line. They help us out a lot and give us a good look. … It helps us, helps them and helps the whole team out.”
Against Nederland last Friday, the unit of junior Josh Hranicky, McDonald, junior Langston, sophomore John Nichols and senior Zach Murdock opened holes for sophomore quarterback Roschon Johnson to rush for each of the Indians’ six touchdowns in a 41-21 win. Johnson’s longest scoring run went for 70 yards.
That same line has protected the leading passer in the district with 1,785 yards and 20 touchdowns to go with 1,045 rushing yards and 24 TDs and opened up holes for him and junior Preston Hughes, who has exactly 900 yards and nine scores.
Three months earlier, the unit was overcoming injuries and enduring tests against West Brook and West Orange-Stark in scrimmages.
“West Orange, the way I saw us handle ourselves and going out there and competing — because West Orange is a really good team — that showed me what we can do,” McDonald said.
Now healthy, the o-line has played solidly and given playmakers chances to produce solid results.
“As an offensive line, we’ve gotten better every week,” Medlock said. “Guys like J.P. have continued to grow and come along, and it’s hard to believe where we were in August and where we are now. We’ve been tested in the fire because we haven’t been on the field with anybody bad. Everybody we’ve played has been a challenge. They’ve made us work and think and really prepare in a way not only prepared us long-term in the season but also in the short-term, from game to game.”
5A DIVISION II BI-DISTRICT: BARBERS HILL (8-2) AT PORT NECHES-GROVES (9-1)
• When: 7 p.m. Friday
• Where: Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont
• Radio: KCOL-FM 92.5
• District records: Barbers Hill 6-2 in 21-5A; PNG 7-1 in 22-5A
• Series record: PNG leads 4-0; last meeting, PNG won 21-13 in 2010
• Tonight’s other local bi-district games: Crosby vs. Vidor (5A D-II), 7 p.m., Stallworth Stadium, Baytown; West Orange-Stark vs. Tarkington (4A D-II), 7:30 p.m., Thomas Center, Beaumont
