By Mike Tobias | Beaumont Enterprise
Updated 9:21 am, Tuesday, August 2, 2016
A dozen parents and fans – some dressed in purple and white T-shirts, others in Nomex coveralls – watched intently from the stands as Port Neches-Groves’ varsity football team ran drills Monday morning before the sun came up.
“I’m headed to work after this,” said Ronald Johnson. “But I wanted to spend a little time out here, watching (my son) before I go.”
Johnson, who lives in Groves, and the other onlookers arrived before the 5:40 a.m. workout began. The 150 or so athletes scattered across the field started practice with a series of stretches and sprints and then broke into small groups and 7-on-7 drills.
Johnson’s eyes were on his sophomore son, Roschon, who has been named the starting quarterback.
Johnson, who called his son a “workaholic,” said Roschon got up, “prayed this morning, came out here to take care of the rest.”
“I think he’ll do well,” he said. “I think he’s going to raise a lot of eyebrows this year.”
Head coach Brandon Faircloth said “no one works harder” than Roschon.
“(During the summer), he was out here every weekend, throwing into the practice net,” Faircloth said. “The connection today, with his receivers, was kind of the result of playing a lot of 7-on-7. They have their timing down with him. They’ve had some good completions so far today.”
Parents Mitch and Mary Murdock perched themselves near the field where the linemen were running drills. Their son, Zachary, is the last of three sons to play for the Indians. He is following Micah (class of 2012) and Avery (class of 2015).
Coming to watch the first practice of the year has been a tradition for the Murdocks. Mary said she will be at every morning practice until she has to go back to her kindergarten teaching job at Ridgewood Elementary.
“Until then, I’m here every morning,” she said, “And then sometimes before school.”
Mitch, dressed in blue Nomex, said he was staying at Monday’s practice until he needed to leave for work at Port Arthur’s Motiva refinery.
While he was mostly watching Zachary, Mitch kept an eye on the other players and coaches. As the person behind the mic on Friday nights supplying PN-G’s play-by-play, Mitch needs to familiarize himself early with the other players’ names and positions.
Mary, who contributes photos to the team’s end-of-year slide show, had camera in hand as the sun came up behind The Reservation’s visitors’ stands.
She also snapped a number of frames as Zachary worked with one of his coaches.
“He’s the only lineman of our three sons,” Mitch said. “He played guard last year, but the injury bug got him. He was able to work himself back, but hopefully we’ll avoid it this year.”
The Murdocks said Monday morning’s crowd was typical for a first day. More fans and parents will begin showing up when the team is allowed to practice with pads, they said.
Until then, Faircloth will continue the early-morning, helmet-only drills as he evaluates his players.
“We had a great effort, great enthusiasm,” Faircloth said at the end of Monday’s practice. “It’s been eight months since we last wore football pads. We’re no where near where we want to be, but we have four weeks to the first game and that’s what we’re focused on.”
The Indians open their season at home on Aug. 26 against the Silsbee Tigers.
