Tom Halliburton | BeaumontEnterprise.com
Oct. 15, 2022
PORT NECHES – Chance Prosperie and Cole Crippen understood the development of tension-proof chemistry between receiver and passer. When Port Neches-Groves desperately needed them, they delivered Friday night.
PN-G’s homecoming night was about to be ruined. The odds looked bleak that Port Neches-Groves could rescue its 35-28 victory. The team trailed 28-27, needing to convert a 3rd-and-13 misery on their own 25-yard line with a couple of jittery minutes to play.
“Hey, no problem,” Crippen would calm the nervous PN-G faithful. “Nothing to it.”
Prosperie lunged head-first to snag a 34-yard catch at Dayton’s 41, saving the day against a fast Dayton defense. The reception keyed a 72-yard, 13-play drive capped by a two-yard game-winning touchdown run by Shea Adams with 7 seconds left in the game.
The late rally improved PN-G to 5-2 and 3-1 to remain in District 9-5A-II’s upper echelon.
This Crippen-to-Prosperie connection ranked among the classic catches PN-G has ever produced. Crippen’s rainbow was a beauty, but only perfect chemistry made it possible. The ball looked for a second as if it would be slightly overthrown — and it was — but great players make great plays.
“It was a 12-yard comeback-and-go,” Prosperie said. “I made a double-move on the defender and I dove for it and caught it. I was confident. I knew I could catch it because of Cole.
“The chemistry between us means everything,” Prosperie added. “The relationship we’ve had and the way we’ve worked together the last couple of years means everything.”
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Crippen, PN-G’s senior quarterback, has thrown these balls over and over to his fellow senior receiver Prosperie. Their chemistry is no accident, coming from hours of practice. Their connection had been well-established before this fourth quarter nail-biter.
Prosperie caught eight passes for 118 yards but no touchdowns. That’s because the Broncos’ secondary would bracket him most of the night with two defenders. Crippen’s numbers – 18-of-36 for 209 yards, a touchdown and no picks – were misleading too because of Dayton’s outstanding defensive speed and pressure.
“Cole and Chance are the guys we have to have,” a relieved PN-G coach Jeff Joseph said. “I’m just happy we won.”
PN-G led at half, 24-14, as Isaac Baker and Jonathan Hernandez limited Dayton’s ground game to 43 first-half yards. If Baker was not this game’s most valuable player, he was mighty close, batting down passes and making huge stops.
“Our effort was what it came down to,” Baker said. “I think it was one of my best games…. They were holding a lot more at the end. It got a lot more sloppy.”
Dayton’s running game and an improved defense allowed the visitors to take their only lead with 3:11 left to play. District-leading rusher William Harrison made a pretty midfield cut and ran 56 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point kick gave Dayton a 28-27 edge.
PN-G’s chemistry class had not been dismissed quite yet.
