By I.C. Murrell | PA News
Published 5:09 pm Saturday, December 2, 2017
HUMBLE — As they did a year ago in Baytown, seniors Marquez Perez and DaDa Anderson of College Station gave Port Neches-Groves fits.
The quarterback and running back each rushed for more than 200 yards and paced the Cougars to the tune of 676 total yards, en route to a 66-40 win over PNG on Saturday at Turner Stadium.
“They have a really good team,” PNG coach Brandon Faircloth said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our seniors and all that they accomplished, and our team, we left it out on the field with all of our hearts. They made it very awesome for me to come to work every day and be their coach. I’m proud of them today.”
The loss ends PNG’s season in the 5A Division II Region III semifinals for the second year in a row. PNG finished 10-2, while College Station (11-2) will take on Fort Bend Marshall, a 35-32 winner over Hutto on Friday.
Just like in last year’s regional semi, College Station was the unstoppable juggernaut.
“They’re just high-powered in all areas,” PNG junior quarterback Roschon Johnson said after totaling 472 yards of offense and accounting for five touchdowns. “Their defense is good enough to stop you, and their offense has so much talent, it’s hard to stop them. And their special teams can make plays. They’re just an all-around good team.”
Anderson carried the ball 16 times for 227 yards and four touchdowns. His longest run was 56 yards, and it was a ruled a touchdown when it appeared he fumbled the ball into the end zone as he was tackled at the PNG 1 and the Indians recovered.
Perez rushed 12 times for 219 yards and three touchdowns. His scoring runs were from 1, 52 and 87 yards out.
“Their quarterback, he’s absolutely amazing,” said PNG wide receiver Preston Riggs, who had nine catches for 129 yards in his final game. “He’s really fast, and the running back, too. They posed a big threat on us. Their defense, their good, too.”
The Indians could not keep pace with the Cougars, unlike in last year’s game when it was tied at 21. (College Station won 52-28.) The Cougars scored on 10 straight possessions out of 12, punting on the opening series and running the clock out at the end.
“Their offensive line is really big and physical,” Faircloth said. “The running backs are fast. The quarterback is elite.”
Brandon Joseph intercepted Johnson twice, and the Indians fumbled a kickoff return. College Station capitalized on all three turnovers.
PNG pulled within 14-7 when Riggs caught a 24-yard pass from Johnson early in the second quarter. Before the Indians scored again, College Station reeled off 21 unanswered points.
Alan Guerrieri knocked through a 29-yard field goal at the end of the first half to give College Station a 38-14 lead.
The Indians managed to control the first 6 minutes of the third quarter and pull within 38-20 on Austin Jones’ 17-yard TD catch. But Anderson was hard to bring down, breaking five tackles on a 30-yard tackle that led to his 33-yard scoring run.
Perez made PNG pay for Johnson’s second pick when he turned a third-and-5 into an 87-yard scoring run.
Azarian Foght became College Station’s third 100-yard rusher, totaling 101 on nine second-half carries with two TDs.
Johnson finished with 199 yards on 28 carries, with touchdown runs of 1 and 18 yards. He also threw for 273 yards on 21-of-34 passing and touchdown passes to Riggs (24 yards), Jones and Kaleb Wuenschel (14).
“Roschon is an amazing quarterback,” Riggs said. “I couldn’t do anything without him. He’s a UT [University of Texas] commit. I hope the best for him next year, and I hope he does well.”
Senior Cameron Stansbury caught five passes for 53 yards.
“We showed a lot of heart,” Riggs said. “I love this team with all my heart, and we just didn’t come out with the win. That’s unfortunate.”
Cougars 66, Indians 40
College Station 14 24 14 14 — 66
PNG 0 14 6 20 — 40
First quarter
CS — DaDa Anderson 56 run (Alan Guerrieri kick), 4:24
CS — Marquez Perez 52 run (Guerrieri kick), 1:47
Second quarter
PNG — Preston Riggs 24 pass from Roschon Johnson (Landon Sandell kick), 11:48
CS — Perez 1 run (Guerrieri kick), 8:59
CS — Anderson 12 run (Guerrieri kick), 6:41
CS —Anderson 6 run (Guerrieri kick), 6:21
PNG — Johnson 1 run (Sandell kick), 0:54
CS — Guerrieri 29 field goal, 0:00
Third quarter
PNG — Austin Jones 17 pass from Johnson (kick blocked), 6:02
CS — Anderson 33 run (Guerrieri kick), 5:15
CS — Perez 87 run (Guerrieri kick), 1:23
Fourth quarter
PNG — Johnson 18 run (pass failed), 11:40
CS — Azarian Foght 32 run (Guerrieri kick), 10:42
PNG — Austin Bost 1 run (Sandell kick), 7:12
CS — Foght 8 run (Guerrieri kick), 4:27
PNG — Kaleb Wuenschel 14 pass from Johnson (Sandell kick), 0:47
CS PNG
First downs 23 29
Rushes-yards 37-547 50-290
Passing yards 129 273
Total yards 676 563
Comp-Att-Int 11-14-0 21-34-2
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 2-30 7-53
Individual leaders
RUSHING — CS: Anderson 16-227, Perez 12-219, Foght 9-101. PNG: Johnson 28-199, Gavin Deslatte 11-56, Preston Riggs 4-26, Bost 3-8, Jose Ceja 4-1.
PASSING — CS: Perez 11-14-0, 129. PNG: Johnson 21-34-2, 290.
RECEIVING — CS: Jaelin Campbell 6-70, Brandon Williams 2-25, Spencer Maxwell 1-25, Anderson 2-9. PNG: Riggs 9-129, Cameron Stansbury 5-53, Andrew Hebert 1-31, Jones 2-25, Holden Lane 1-19, Wuenschel 1-14, Ceja 2-2.
