November 8, 2019 | PNGIndians.com
Another Mid-County Madness game is in the history books. Number 96 belongs to the Big Purple of PN-G.
Port Neches-Groves captured the Bum Phillips Bowl Trophy for the 3rd time in 4 seasons in yet another nail biting finish to the annual game.
The Indian offense, behind the rifle arm of junior quarterback Blake Bost, was on the verge of blowing out the score throughout the game.
Bost completed 15 of 21 passes for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns and added 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The 71% completion rate and 13.9 yards per completion was his best production of the season.
Wide receivers Peyton Proenza (5-90-2 TDs), Kaleb Wuenschel (5-68-1 TD) and junior Brady Nail (5-44) were all clutch performers on a night when mud was the 12th man on defense for the Bulldogs.
Senior running back Zane Hernandez caught 1 pass for 5 yards and also had a career high running the ball for 141 yards on 16 carries. His 50 yard run on the first play set the tone for the game.
The Indian offense seemed unstoppable for most of the night. A late 2nd quarter fumble and some unfortunate penalties held the score in check and kept the Bulldogs within range of another miracle comeback.
For Nedeland, their offense made big plays when they needed to move the chains. But the bad field conditions also had an impact on the Bulldogs.
A muffed punt return by the Bulldogs in the second half added to their misfortune and the Indians struck quickly for a TD.
The PN-G defense was stingy for most of the night but a handful of big runs and long passes and a never quit attitude kept the Bulldogs in the game.
After a fourth quarter punt with about 4 and a half minutes left in the game, the Indian defense stopped a late drive at the 10 yard line and held on to a 27-21 win.
PN-G travels to play Fort Bend Marshall in what will be a very tough bi-district matchup against the 11-5A runnerups.
Nederland will be in a similar position traveling to play the 11-5A district champion Manvel Mavericks.
