By BLAIR DEDRICK ORTMANN
August 26, 2008
Posted: August 26, 2008, 6:01 PM CDT
Port Neches-Groves coach Matt Burnett is practicing patience this year and teaching his players to do the same.
The Indians have been watching the PN-G stadium growing, and just got their first opportunity to practice on the new, improved Reservation a few weeks ago.
The team will have to wait until October to play a game there as construction continues. For now, the Indians will settle for practicing on the stadium’s new artificial turf while the facility surrounding the field remains a work in process.
By that time, what Burnett is waiting for might have happened. By that time, his players, new and returning, ought to have grown together into a team.
“Obviously, you’d like to see it full up with people,” Burnett said of the stadium. “But, just like the team, you just have to have patience.”
Burnett doesn’t mind waiting on his team though – it’s what he does, what high school football is about, he said.
“You watch them grow, that’s high school football to me,” he said. “They’re kids. You’ve just got to watch them grow.”
As for the stadium, Burnett figures playing all those road games will just prepare the guys for the playoffs.
“We’ll play on the road and that’s what you do in the playoffs,” he said, adding, however, that “it’s really nice to practice on the field. It’s kind of been a pleasant gift for ‘em.”
And, even amid concerns that the stadium might not be completed by the Oct. 10 game against Livingston, Burnett is relaxed.
“We just have to be patient and have faith that it’ll be finished,” he said.
For the team, the main concern is the defense, where a lot of seniors graduated last year. Only one defensive starter is returning, but many of this year’s players got a lot of playing time last year.
Burnett is counting on defensive backs Shea McElduff and Tyler Gizzi, both of whom are playing at corner, to lead the defensive effort.
“Those two guys have a lot of experience,” Burnett said. McElduff played free safety last year and both lettered, meaning they got playing time but didn’t necessarily start.
“I feel confident that the seniors that played JV and now are varsity will be playing well together by district,” Burnett said. “We’ll have some growing pains, but by the time we get to district, we should have a solid defense and be ready to go.”
Tight ends/defensive ends Dillon Harrison and Jerin Spikes are also returning to shore up both the offensive and defensive lines.
“Both played last year on both sides of the ball, and we feel confident they’ll be able to lead the defense,” Burnett said.
District play for the Indians starts Sept. 26 against Little Cypress-Mauriceville.
The Mid-County Madness game against Nederland will be Oct. 3 at Nederland for the second year in a row, since The Reservation is not scheduled to be ready for play until the following week.
PN-G ended its season last year in the second round of playoffs, losing to Lamar Consolidated 26-7 and ending a seven-game winning streak for the Indians, giving them an 8-4 record for the season.
On offense, the Indians will be lead by senior quarterback Harrison Tatum, who threw for 1,073 yards and seven touchdowns on 74 completions in 2007, Burnett said.
This is Tatum’s third year to start at quarterback.
“It gives you a feeling of confidence knowing you’ve got your quarterback returning,” Burnett said. “He’s a good leader, leads by example, by his work habits. Tatum’s a big part of our team.”
Tatum will be backed up this year by junior Kane Benoit, who also starts as a linebacker. Burnett said Benoit has a strong arm and would be starting if Tatum wasn’t returning.
Also returning to strengthen the offense are running back Josh Wright, offensive tackle Lloyd McLin and center Tanner Ross.
Burnett said Wright, who won a state championship in power lifting, is ready for the upcoming season. He rushed for 866 yards and six touchdowns in 2007, Burnett said.
“He’s real strong and an explosive running back with a lot of speed,” Burnett said. “Last year, we kind of featured the fullback and this year, he’ll get more carries. He can carry the load.”
The strong returning players as well as those moving up from JV give Burnett some confidence about the season.
“That’s what I feel good about,” he said. “They’re all veteran, experienced players that have been there and done that, so that helps offensively.”
Fullback Caleb Harmon and linebacker Christian Kerr are two of the younger players Burnett is watching.
Harmon had a good off-season, Burnett said, while Kerr got a lot of playing time last year.
“The two scrimmages and three non-district games are important,” Burnett said. “Play hard and stay together is the main thing. Through the early games, we’ll watch the team develop.”
With that said, Burnett isn’t overconfident.
“I always anticipate us getting to the playoffs,” he said. “Winning’s not easy. It’s hard. You’ve got to work. There’s a lot of good teams in our league, and I don’t know what these other teams have.”
With so many road games, the Indians have a hard schedule, and Burnett said many of the district teams have an appetite to win, from Lumberton coming off a playoff season to Vidor, who Burnett said is always prepared, to Nederland who’s just “hungry” for a win over PN-G.
“What I see out there, I think we will develop into a playoff team if we keep playing together and make fewer mistakes than our opponents,” he said. “We can have a lot of spirit, but we still have got to do the work. Spirit’s not going to win us games.”
Source: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/high-school/football/Patience_t…
