By TOM HALLIBURTON
Port Arthur News Sports Writer
PORT NECHES – Jeff LeBlanc hopes Indians’ fans never see it happen again all year.
Of course, the senior outside linebacker at Port Neches-Groves does not want his team’s fans to watch PN-G lose another game.
Ahh, but there’s something LeBlanc wants as a one-time occurrence from Saturday’s game.
He does not plan to display that remarkable behind-the-back handoff to himself on any more kickoff returns this season either.
Thanks to The Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience, a slow-motion examination of LeBlanc’s kick return was in order Tuesday afternoon.
Jacksonville had scored to take a 14-7 lead with 8:59 left in the first half. LeBlanc caught the ensuing kickoff on his own 4-yard line and ran on an angle toward PN-G’s 35.
That’s about the point when an unexpected member of Jacksonville’s kickoff team stripped the ball from behind LeBlanc’s left arm. But Jeff kept his footing, made his patented counter-clockwise spin move and kept going forward.
The support of fellow PN-G return team member Jeff Bergeron appeared to help LeBlanc keep his balance for another five yards before he went down at PN-G’s 47.
LeBlanc ended the run with the ball still in his left hand, as it was at the start of his memorable runback. It looked as if in slow-motion that the PN-G linebacker tried to switch hands with the ball, but his right hand didn’t want it, so his left hand took it back.
“The guy grabbed my arm and I tried to hold on,” LeBlanc said, laughing as he remembered the moment.
But how did LeBlanc come out of it smelling like a rose? Well that’s more complicated to explain.
“It just went my way,” the 17-year-old son of Ray and Ginger LeBlanc said. “I started thinking about it when I got to the sidelines. It was a shock to me.
“It won’t happen again. That was too close to a fumble for me.”
Statisticians will not declare the play as a fumble but they almost could. LeBlanc acted on instinct and athletes always have possessed the ability to do extraordinary feats instinctively – things they could never do if they thought about them.
LeBlanc never thought he would blossom into a purple and white early-season star of this magnitude, either. But he has. Jeff played just about as big as anyone in the first two games. He had eight tackles against Jacksonville and contributed a crucial third-down stop in the 7-0 victory against Crosby.
LeBlanc could not contribute at all in PN-G’s memorable playoff run as a junior. He was stuck in his outside linebacker post behind one of the area’s premier defenders, Shawn Lang. Then he suffered a ruptured spleen after the Indians’ first playoff game against Silsbee.
Indians’ fans, including head football coach Matt Burnett, could begin to see Jeff’s potential when he would bloom last spring on the 4A regional finalist PN-G soccer team.
“Jeff just had a good player in front of him but it wasn’t like he surprised us,” Burnett reflected on LeBlanc’s development. “We knew Jeff had the talent and the desire to excel. He was a big force on our soccer team. He really competed for us in soccer and he’s carried it right into football.”
PN-G didn’t expect Jacksonville’s offensive line to be so dominant last Saturday. If the teams could play again, PN-G likely would send LeBlanc into the opposing backfield in an effort to disrupt.
In fact, regardless of the opponent, look for LeBlanc to pester that foe with an occasional blitz in the upcoming weeks. It’s a sure thing because LeBlanc’s playmaking abilities.
“We’re going to have to get him (LeBlanc) more involved in things,” Burnett said. “We can use him a lot more in blitzes.”
LeBlanc was not the same proven linebacker quality as inside backers Cody Clark and Trayce Boudoin. He still doesn’t have their amount of experience under his belt. But he’s a fast learner. How fast? He’s got a 4.0 grade average with an intent to major in chemical engineering at Lamar University.
“I figured I would get a lot of playing time but I had no clue about doing this well,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d actually contribute this much. It’s a big shock to me.”
From now on, Jeff wants to apply the shock to the other teams and he’s ready for Friday’s application.
INDIAN INKLINGS
Indians will leave The Reservation around 3:30 Friday and bus to Humble for the 7:30 kickoff against Humble Kingwood at Turner Stadium. To reach the stadium, travel west on US 90 to Dayton and take Texas 1960 from Dayton to Humble. Upon entering Humble on 1960, turn left at Wilson Road. The stadium will be on the left side of the street…. Two injured seniors returned to practice on Monday — QBs Tony Bowser and Cody Elkins. Bowser (torn knee cartilage) will receive some playing time in the Kingwood game if the situation presents itself. He is able to play with a knee brace, though junior Kirk Hallmark remains the starter at QB. Elkins (ankle fracture) will suit out but his limited conditioning will keep his status as extremely doubtful for at least another week…. Best news about Jacksonville game is PN-G came out of it without any serious injuries…. Tackle Michael Thibodeaux, who missed both Crosby and Jacksonville games, will not be able to suit out again this week (lower back strain).
