By David Thompson|BeaumontEnterprise.com
Published 10:23 am, Monday, October 31, 2016
Port Neches-Groves struggled to dispatch Ozen on Saturday but ultimately left the Thomas Center with a 28-13 win as they prepare for Mid-County Madness next week against Nederland.
WHAT HAPPENED
The Indians looked to be in full control from the start after sophomore quarterback Roschon Johnson led his team to a 21-0 lead behind three touchdown passes and 200 passing yards in the first quarter.
But with junior starting running back Preston Hughes on the sidelines in crutches with a hip pointer injury, the PN-G offense struggled to find its rhythm the rest of the game. Ozen cut the lead to 21-7 at half after Dominique Morrisconnected with Charleston Evans for a 46-yard TD in the second quarter.
PN-G head coach Brandon Faircloth said he “fully expects” Hughes – who has 902 rushing yards on the season – to be ready for next week’s game against the Bulldogs.
Neither team was able to move the ball in the third quarter before PN-G sophomore running back Jaylan Williams scored on a one-yard touchdown run with under five minutes left in the game.
Ozen scored a garbage time touchdown, a 32-yard strike from Morris to Kayforn Hornes, but was never able to mount a true comeback.
TURNING POINT
Leading 7-0 in the first quarter, PN-G scored 14 points on two plays – 93- and 75-yard yard receptions from Johnson to Prestion Riggs and Keynel McZeal, respectively – to give the Indians a 21-0 lead. They would not score again until 4:22 left in the fourth quarter, but the damage was already done.
WHAT STOOD OUT
Although Johnson opened the game completing 7-of-8 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, Ozen’s defense shut him down the rest of the game, holding him to 2-of-6 passing for 8 yards in quarters two through four.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sterling Winzer was Ozen’s best offensive weapon, rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries. Morris completed 5-of-17 passes for 150 yards while connecting with Evans twice for 78 yards and a touchdown.
HE SAID IT
“We don’t care if they are pretty or ugly,” Faircloth said. “Ozen played really hard today. They were ready to play. We got up early and I think we lost a little of our edge on a Saturday afternoon.”
RECORDS
Port Neches-Groves (8-1, 6-1); Ozen (1-8, 1-6).
UP NEXT
Port Neches-Groves hosts Nederland next Friday.
Ozen travels to Livingston next Friday.
