Posted on Nov 11, 2014
by Gabriel Pruett
Fact is the Port Neches-Groves lost to the Central Jaguars.
But when asked about the play of the year for receiver Kaleb Sparks and quarterback Adam Morse, Indians coach Brandon Faircloth was quick to answer.
Honestly, all three of the gentlemen pointed to the same play.
Morse dropped back against the Jaguars and gunned a pass between two Central defenders to hit Sparks in the numbers. It was what Faircloth called a
“perfect throw.”
Sparks ran toward the sideline, turned upfield, caught Morse’s pass and then went on to score from 73 yards out. One of the most amazing parts is that
Sparks outran PJ Locke, a defensive back headed to Oregon, for the last 50 yards.
That play is the perfect example of how good the combination of Sparks and Morse has been this season. No PN-G quarterback and receiver tandem has hooked up for more touchdowns in a year.
Sparks and Morse have done it 14 times.
“It is special,” Faircloth said of the duo. “They have a connection. Adam knows where Kaleb is going to be and knows how to make the reads. They
have had a season to remember, no doubt about it.”
Sparks has a District 22-5A high 70 receptions this year for 1,136 yards, with the 14 scores. His receiving yards are almost half of Morse’s 2,604 passing
numbers. Morse has 27 total touchdowns.
The single season touchdowns mark is not the only record Sparks and even Morse is looking to break this year.
Morse is 264 yards behind Brennan Doty’s 2,868 yards in 2010 for second most passing yards in a single season and is three touchdowns away from first place for touchdowns thrown in a year. Dustin Long had 28 in 1999 and Doty had 29 in 2010. Long holds the record for most yards in a season with 3,087 in 1999, 483 more than Morse.
Sparks is four yards short of second and 40 behind first for most yards in a year. Jeremiah Rose had 1,176 in 2013 yards and Jayce Nelson had 1,140 in 2010. His 70 catches are fourth in school history, Jayce Nelson is in third with 77 back in 2010.
The tandem got off to a very quick start to the year. Sparks had 13 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown to open the year against Clear Lake. That night Morse put up the most yards any quarterback has ever had for PN-G in a single game with 383 yards in what was his first varsity start.
How did the connection grow so much after Morse was the backup quarterback last year and Sparks was the second leading receiver behind Rose?
“This summer’s 7-on-7 tournament helped because it is all passing,” Sparks said. “It carried over to the season.”
Sparks and Morse, along with the other PN-G receivers and runners, also put in extra time to work with each other.
“Every once in awhile we will get together on the weekend, and on the bye week, and work on timing,” Morse said.
It was hard to fathom the Indians passing game would be this explosive coming into the season after Rose’s graduation and the fact Morse had never started a game. Then, in the Indians third nondistrict game, fellow receiver Jack Giblin was lost for the year. He had 17 catches, 312 yards and three touchdowns in a little over two games of work.
“It was a ton of pressure after Jack went down,” Sparks said. “He is an amazing receiver. We all had to step up and we had to replace him as a group
because not one guy can do it.”
“I have faith in every single receiver I have out there,” Morse added. “From Kaleb to Caisen (Sullivan) to (Keynel) McZeal and everyone else, they
are all great players. It’s nice having all those guys to throw to.”
Faircloth has never been more impressed than with the numbers and work his record-setting combination has put up to guide the Indians into the playoffs.
“Kaleb has played through double and triple teams all year and still put up 70 catches, 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns,” Faircloth said. “That is incredible. Adam, his 66-percent passing is amazing. He does a great job getting the ball out of his hands and into the hands of his playmakers. Plus, we couldn’t do all this without our line and running backs. We have been blessed this season to have all that firepower.”
Indian Inklings: Talking about records, Brant Halfin has moved into seventh place for most career rushing yards in PN-G history with 2,569. He is 69 yards behind Jake Hemmings for sixth and 109 behind Mark Buchanan’s 2,678 yards for fifth…Caisen Sullivan has truly had a remarkable season. Sullivan was down in the depth chart until Giblin’s Week 3 injury. Sullivan finished the regular season with the second most catches (42) in District 22-5A. He stands at 511 yards and three touchdowns…Brant Dykes finished the regular season five points shy of being the leading point scorer in district for a kicker. He had 55 points on 46 extra points and five field goals. Nederland’s James Brindza had 60 points…Avery Murdock finished tied for third with three interceptions through 10 games. Central’s Locke had the most in 22-5A with six picks.
Source: http://www.panews.com/sports/morse-to-sparks-historic-indians-combo/article_4704d90a-6a21-11e4-af5a-27caf3fe4660.html
