Gabe Pruett|PANews.com
Published 11:42 pm Tuesday, November 1, 2016
PORT NECHES — Logan LeJeune was watching Port Neches-Groves football long before he can ever remember.
The senior linebacker was in diapers on the field at the Astrodome for the Indians’ 1999 state final game against the Art Briles-coached Stephenville Yellowjackets. PNG went on to lose that game, 28-18.
His dad, David LeJeune, started his coaching career at PNG in 1993 as an assistant basketball coach before moving to Groves Middle School.
David spent one more year at the high school before finding another career, the 1999 championship run. The family made a trip out of it with Logan’s mother Amy pregnant at the time with his sister Libbie, who is now a volleyball and soccer player for the Indians.
“I live, eat and breathe PNG,” Logan said. “Just having my dad and grandfather in front of me and trying to live up to what they did here, I just have to play as hard as I can. My dad used to carry me on the sideline. Just thinking about it gives me chills.”
LeJeune mentioned his grandfather and for good reason. Butch Troy is his name and he coached the Indians from 1984 to 1990.
David LeJeune was one of Troy’s players years before he went on to marry his coach’s daughter, Amy.
“Logan is the third generation connected to this program,” David said. “My life and career, we lived coming to Port Neches-Groves sports events. It has been so awesome to build such great relationships with so many players and teammates.”
LeJeune and his Indians teammates Friday are going to look to do something no PNG team has done since 2009, beat Nederland in Mid-County Madness for the Bum Phillips Bowl Trophy.
“Losing twice since I have been on the varsity level, it just gives me that more of a want,” LeJeune said. “It has stayed in my head from last year and the year before that. I want this more than anything and I am going to do whatever I can come Friday.”
PNG coach Brandon Faircloth can talk for an hour about what LeJeune brings to the table each game. There was one subject he was ready to not talk about.
“It can bring a tear to my eye, that is for sure,” Faircloth said of LeJeune being a senior. “He is a complete player. He does everything the right way. Logan is one of the best to put on a purple jersey. That is the bottom line. He is one of the best ever here at PNG on defense.”
Faircloth point to the fact LeJeune was named to the all-state team last year as a safety and now appears headed for the recognition again this year as a linebacker.
“He is the face of the program,” Faircloth added. “He is the one you want leading you. He played as a freshman in a playoff game and not many people know that.”
LeJeune is excited to play his final regular season game in front of the PNG fans.
“Ending our district play here at The Reservation against Nederland is just crazy,” LeJeune said. “It is a crazy feeling and I am going to leave it all on the field. Those two losses to Nederland definitely hurt. I am doing all this for my team.”
If the Indians can end the losing skid to the Bulldogs, all the pain from the previous years will be left in the past.
