Port Arthur Memorial wins overtime thriller in Port Neches
By Jorge Ramos, Beaumont Enterprise Updated 2:21 am CDT, Saturday, September 26, 2020
PORT NECHES — Despite having a 20-0 first quarter lead, the Port Arthur Memorial Titans (1-0) needed overtime to squeak by Port Neches-Groves High School (0-1) and secure a season-opening win on Friday.
A 33-yard touchdown down pass by Port Arthur Memorial junior quarterback Jah’Mar Sanders to senior wide receiver Tony Brooks sealed a 38-32 overtime win over PN-G.
“It’s a testament to our kids fighting through adversity. The kids really fought when things weren’t going our way,” Memorial head football coach Brian Morgan said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy and we talked about it at pregame and halftime.”
On PN-G’s first offensive series in overtime, senior running back Lance Vaughn fumbled on the second play and the Titans recovered the ball. But a 15-yard penalty on the first play of Memorial’s first possession pushed the Titans back to the 33-yard line before Sanders’ game-winning touchdown.
The Titans started the game fast and built a large lead early. Sanders’ agility in open space made him nearly untouchable and he accounted for 188 of the Titans’ 281 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the first half— one passing and one rushing.
Sanders finished with 207 yards rushing, 140 yards through the air and five total touchdowns.
But before Sanders’ went off, it was senior wide receiver Tyrence Augusta who opened the scoring for the Titans. Agusta broke off a 50-yard touchdown run and put the Titans up 7-0 with more than 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
For PN-G, the first half was plagued with dropped passes that stunted any chance for team to build any offensive rhythm. The most notable drop of the first half was on the first PN-G offensive series by senior wide receiver Grant Pearson who would’ve walked into the endzone if not for the miscue. The drive ended with a punt.
“First game mistakes,” Faircloth said of his team’s multiple drops on Friday. “We all made mistakes tonight. That’s just part of the game. I am just proud of our guys for bouncing back.”
The Titans doubled their lead on the next drive when Sanders found the end zone from 74 yards out. Memorial missed the PAT, but built a 13-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Sanders increased the lead to 20-0 by completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Branden Chaney.
After PN-G’s first three drives ended in punts, PN-G quarterback Blake Bost found senior wideout Brady Nail for a 33-yard touchdown with 9:34 remaining in the first half. But a missed PAT kept the Titans lead to 14 points.
PN-G then recovered a fumble by Sanders on its next defensive possession. However, despite a 31-yard run by Vaughn, PN-G was forced to settle for a 23-yard field goal attempt to cut the lead down to 20-9.
PN-G battled back in the second half and outscored the Titans 23-12. Bost led the way with 138 yards through the air on 12-of-29 attempts and four total touchdowns — two rushing and two passing.
“What an incredible player,” PN-G head football coach Brandon Faircloth said of Bost. “He is resilient and never gives up. He is the leader of our football team, he’s the heart of our offense and it showed tonight.”
In addition to the superb play of Bost in the second half, PN-G’s success stemmed from its play on special teams. They recovered two kickoff returns — one resulting in a touchdown on the ensuing series — and a blocked PAT returned for two points.
It also helped the Port Neches-Groves football team that the Titans had a total of 80 yards in penalties.
“That’s why you play non-district games — to clean all this stuff up,” Morgan said.
However, the Titans had the final word and pulled off an overtime victory on the first night of the season.
PN-G will travel to Beaumont to take on the Timberwolves next week, while the Titans travel to Mt. Belvieu to play Barbers Hill.
