By Avi Zaleon
Beaumont Enterprise
Published 11:53 pm, Friday, October 18, 2013
The night Bum Phillips died, he lived on between the sidelines.
The one-time coach of Nederland, Port Neches-Groves and the Houston Oilers passed away at 90 on the night Mid-County Madness played its 90th meeting.
And Bum would have loved watching this one.
In a back-and-forth game, Nederland edged PN-G, 21-17 Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
Nederland defensive back and all-purpose offensive junior Sage Seay was one of the keys. Seay recorded two interceptions, including the game-ending pick in the end zone, in addition to an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and 54 yards receiving on five catches.
Nederland senior running back Kendrick Hopkins added 103 yards rushing on 20 attempts, while the Nederland defense set the tone by putting pressure on PN-G quarterback Ky Walker most of the night.
The key mistake that cost the Indians came on Nederland’s second-to-last drive of the game.
Leading by three, PN-G (4-3, 2-2) forced Nederland (6-1, 4-0) into a 4th-and-2 deep in Nederland territory.
However, on the punt attempt, the Indians jumped offsides to give the Bulldogs a first down and new life. PN-G would add a pass interference and personal foul penalty to bring the penalty yardage to 35 on the drive.
Nederland senior Brandon Dial added a 39-yard run in the drive and Nederland quarterback Preston White finished it off with a 5-yard bootleg touchdown run to put Nederland ahead 21-17 with 3:37 left in the game.
After amassing 69 yards of offense and a 7-0 deficit in the first half, PN-G came out firing in the third quarter.
Walker completed his first three passes of the half, totaling 65 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to junior Caleb Sparks to tie the game at 14.
Sparks would finish with 143 yards receiving on seven receptions. Walker was 13-for-30 with 214 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. White completed 6-of-13 attempts for 64 yards.
At the end of the third quarter, Nederland fumbled the kickoff following the Sparks touchdown and PN-G recovered.
Momentum was going the Indians’ way.
However, the Bulldogs defense came up big. PN-G was faced with a 4th-and-1 from the Nederland 5-yard line, down 21-17 and did not make it.
When Nederland took possession back, PN-G was without a timeout and could not stop the clock.
Read more at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/Nederland-hangs-on-against-Indians-4908936.php
