By David Thompson | BeaumontEnterprise.com
Updated 1:09 am, Saturday, November 19, 2016
Sophomore quarterback Roschon Johnson put up gaudy numbers for the second straight week and the defense made stops when it counted, as Port Neches-Groves advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010 with a 28-14 win over Fort Bend Willowridge Friday at Stallworth Stadium in a Class 5A Division II area round matchup.
WHAT HAPPENED
Johnson combined for 401 total yards and three passing touchdowns to Dylan McGough, Riley Andrews and a 34-yard connection with senior Preston Riggs to give his team a 21-14 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.
After being held to seven points in the first half – the Indians led 7-6 at halftime – PN-G found itself trailing 14-7 in the third quarter after Eagles quarterback Kealton Goffney scored on an eight-yard run with 6:27 left in the quarter.
On the next possession, Johnson found Andrews open for a 22-yard touchdown which sparked 21 unanswered points by the PN-G offense.
Freshman running back Gavin Deslatte, who got his first career start, secured the win in the fourth quarter with a 30-yard touchdown run with less than seven minutes left in the game.
TURNING POINT
With the game tied at 14 all in the third quarter, PN-G’s defense made a crucial stop on 3rd and 1, driving back Goffney three yards to the 46 and forcing a punt. Two long runs by Johnson and a facemask penalty moved the Indians into scoring position where Riggs snuck behind the defense and hauled in the longest completion of the night for a touchdown.
WHAT STOOD OUT
Deslatte’s success at running back was a welcome sign for the Indians, who with the exception of Johnson, have struggled to run the ball over the last two games. The freshman finished with 12 carries for 109 yards including the fourth quarter score – the first of his career.
BY THE NUMBERS
Johnson finished the game with 262 rushing yards on 29 carries while completing 11-of-17 passes for 139 yards. McGough was his favorite receiver of the night, hauling in seven catches for 64 yards.
Although the game was in Baytown, PN-G enjoyed a healthy home field advantage thanks to its eager fan base. The Indians pre-sold 3,000 tickets to Willowridge’s 157.
HE SAID IT
“We just had to really settle down after that first drive and focus on our keys,” PN-G senior linebacker Logan LeJeune said. “Give a lot of credit to our defensive line, they had an eye on that quarterback all night.”
Goffney entered the game with over 700 yards rushing but the Indians defense held him to 38 yards on 16 carries. PN-G’s defense allowed 288 total yards but held the Eagles to 73 yards in the second half.
RECORDS
PN-G (11-1); Willowridge (6-6)
UP NEXT
Port Neches-Groves will face the winner of College Station and Magnolia who play Saturday in Conroe. A win next week for the Indians would be their first in the third round since advancing to the Class 4A Division II state finals in 1999.
