By TOM HALLIBURTON
Port Arthur News Sports Writer
PORT NECHES – If Port Neches-Groves continues on the wrong side of the turnover numbers, the Indians’ demise will not be greatly exaggerated.
On the other hand, if coach Matt Burnett’s Fighting Indians gear up and minimize those turnovers to a big zero, prosperity could return promptly to The Reservation.
In other words, purple turnovers will translate into purple losses. They already have, especially at Humble when a nightmarish six giveaways prevented PN-G from winning a game that could have gone its way.
PN-G could turn it around Friday night when the Indians host undefeated West Orange-Stark in the District 20-4A opener at Indian Stadium. The purple prescription for victory quite simply is no more turnovers.
When the Tribe had them in bundles at Kingwood, they lost. When they minimized them at Vidor, they won even though they endured an ugly game without awesome offensive stats.
“The main thing is we have made more mistakes than our opponent, especially in the kicking game,” Burnett said. “That’s what has attributed to our 3-2 record.
“But we haven’t played dead-beat teams either. I don’t believe Jacksonville and Kingwood have lost a game since we played them. One thing I’m real proud of is that our attitude and effort have been outstanding.”
Based on their impressive-looking scrimmage performances, the Indians figured to receive higher mid-season grades in the offensive line, backfield and kicking game than C. Injuries have factored heavily into those grades, as well as kicking-game execution breakdowns.
“Our execution is going to have improve for us to be a title contender,” Burnett said flatly as he observed the upcoming league race. “We’re going to have to find ways to make some big plays.”
The Indians probably anticipated senior tailback Jeff Bergeron likely would sit among the league’s rushing leaders by now after dashing for 1,021 yards as a junior. Bergeron has missed the last 2 1/2 games with a shoulder separation and PN-G has hunted and pecked for an adequate replacement since then.
Arguably the best recent backfield answer has been starting inside linebacker Trayce Boudoin, who has stepped into the fullback job last week and added quickness to the Indians’ offense.
If injuries have dotted PN-G’s running back situation, they unquestionably have blanketed the quarterback prospectus, starting with August injuries to seniors Cody Elkins and Tony Bowser. Junior Kirk Hallmark started the first four games and is expected to return to the job Friday after spending a week at wide receiver.
“Hallmark has shown some flashes of brilliance,” Burnett said. “Joey (Price) has been the constant among the receivers, keeping that area looking good.
“Our offense isn’t anywhere close to being as good as it can be. Our line hasn’t progressed as well as I thought it would.”
Injuries have played a role there, too. Seniors Elliot Adams and Joe Hollis have played through injuries while senior Michael Thibodeaux has been unable to play because of a lower back ailment.
The nucleus of PN-G’s state championship defensive front has performed up to Burnett’s high expectations, receiving an A-plus at linebacker and an A in the defensive line.
Defensive coordinator Ken Cummings has tutored his charges to stay patient, play hard, and weather a game’s unexpected momentum changes. That’s the type of top-quality approach which enabled PN-G to play 16 games last year. It has continued so far.
When you examine ends Jared Gary and Justin Mercer, tackles Jeremy Davis and Michael Brignac, and the linebacking corps of Trayce Boudoin, Cody Clark, Jeff LeBlanc and Adam LeDoux, you’re still talking about a group that’s as capable as any in Southeast Texas.
“You can’t ask for any better than those guys,” Burnett said. “Overall, the line has been outstanding and the linebackers are playing better than last year. I’ve been impressed with how they’re playing.
“You’ve got to understand that the secondary was the most inexperienced group coming into the season. The secondary is getting better every game. They have made steady improvement.
“Our kicking game has affected our games a lot. We’ve given up 10 points with two bobbled snaps to the punter and we gave up a touchdown with one blocked punt.”
But the Indians may get all those mistakes out of their system in time for Friday night. If they do, count PN-G back among District 20-4A’s elite…. but it starts with a zero in the turnover column, where PN-G is minus-6 through five games.
MATT BURNETT’S MID-SEASON GRADE BOOK
Here’s how Port Neches-Groves head football coach Matt Burnett graded the various areas of his Indians’ team through the first five games of the 10-game regular season:
Offensive line C
QBs & receivers B
Running backs C+
Defensive line A
Linebackers A+
Secondary B+
Kicking game C
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Overall squad attitude A
Overall squad effort A
Overall squad execution B
INDIAN INKLINGS
Good news in PN-G’s camp comes from the return of senior TB Jeff Bergeron (shoulder) who has missed the last 2 1/2 games. Bergeron will start at TB Friday night when annual Indian’ nemesis, West Orange-Stark, will visit The Reservation. Also returning to his former backfield job is junior Kirk Hallmark, who is ticketed to start at quarterback vs. WO-S. Indians liked what they observed enough from senior Trayce Boudoin to keep the starting inside linebacker as a starter this week at fullback. FB Nathan Perez suffered a thigh bruise and did not practice Monday or Tuesday. Perez was considered questionable for WO-S….. Friday’s 20-4A opener vs. WO-S will be televised on The Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience on Saturday and Tuesday nights at 7:30 on Cable 7….. Tackle leaders at Vidor were OLB Jeff LeBlanc (10 first contacts and four assists), ILB Cody Clark (8 and 5), and three front-linemen with six first contacts apiece, Michael Brignac (6 and 2), Jared Gary (6 and 2) and Jeremy Davis (6 and 1). Gary turned in arguably his season’s strongest outing to date at Vidor ….. First six-week grading period sidelined 13 members of the Indians’ football program, according to head coach Matt Burnett. Two varsity, five junior varsity and six freshmen are required to miss three weeks in order to comply with current no-pass, no-play restrictions……
