Matt Faye | BeaumontEnterprise.com
Dec. 15, 2022
Shea Adams was searching for a way on the field, so he accepted an unfamiliar role with the Port Neches-Groves football team.
Prior to this season, Adams played quarterback all his life. Port Neches-Groves was already set at that position with senior leader Cole Crippen, but it wasn’t long before first-year head coach Jeff Joseph realized that he needed to somehow utilize Adams’ skillset.
So the 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior started working at different positions. His height and length made him an obvious choice at wide receiver. His physical running style played well in the backfield, too.
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Adams’ willingness to adapt has provided Port Neches-Groves with an X-factor on offense. While Crippen runs the system as the senior quarterback, Adams often ends up with the ball in his hands, one way or the other.
Coming off a huge performance last week in the state semifinals, Adams could again be a difference-maker on Friday night in the Class 5A-II championship game against South Oak Cliff.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside AT&T Stadium.
“I’m more than happy to be anywhere on the field helping out my team,” Adams said.
Liberty Hill’s defense had no answer for Adams last Friday in the state semifinals. He scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one on a great fade pass from Crippen in the corner of the end zone.
With Adams’ newfound role on the team, his relationship with Crippen has blossomed. The two players are consistently on the same page, resulting in 429 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches for Adams.
“Having Cole as our quarterback has been a huge part of our success,” Adams said. “I don’t know any other high school quarterback that can throw the ball as effectively as he can.”
Despite often lining up at receiver, Adams biggest contributions have come in the running game. Once Port Neches-Groves gets into the red zone, Adams often takes direct snaps in the Wildcat formation.
The formation has been extremely effective. Entering Friday’s championship game, Adams has 23 rushing touchdowns and 803 yards on the ground this season.
Port Neches-Groves’ running game dominated Liberty Hill last week for 296 yards, but South Oak Cliff’s defense will present an even bigger challenge on Friday night.
Related: PN-G offensive line paves the way in state semifinal win
With multiple Division I players on the South Oak Cliff defensive line and in the secondary, Adams knows the Port Neches-Groves offense will need to be at its best.
“South Oak Cliff is a very talented team with a ton of extremely athletic guys,” Adams said. “All we need to do is keep on playing how we’ve been playing as a team, limit the big plays on defense and don’t let our emotions get to us in this big game.”
