“There’s so much passion involved with this game. Every time I’m here, I’m always impressed with the atmosphere created by these communities.”
— Wade Phillips
“We could hear the crowd, we could hear the band, they were loud and enthusiastic. It was fun, man. It was hectic. It was really madness with the weather, the rain and the crowd. It was pretty crazy.”
— PN-G Head Coach Jeff Joseph
“PNG vs. Nederland is the number one rivalry in the state of Texas for a reason.”
— Former PN-G Head Coach Brandon Faircloth
“We’re living and breathing it every single day. It’s almost a Democratic/Republican divide — it’s just the way it is. It’s not sugar-coated. It’s not made up. It’s real — Mid-County Madness. I’m telling you, it’s what’s talked about on almost a daily basis.”
— Former PN-G head football coach Matt Burnett
“It’s all quiet on the home side of the stands at Bulldog Stadium. Nederland simply can’s stop Port Neches-Groves. “
–Matt Faye, Beaumont Enterprise
PN-G vs. Big Ned. Indians vs. Bulldogs. Purple and white against black and gold. Stadiums filled beyond capacity. College game atmosphere. “Mid-County Madness”. All that and more describes the 100 game rivalry between the Port Neches-Groves Indians and Nederland Bulldogs.
Since 1925 the Indians and Bulldogs have battled for the bragging rights of the area nestled between Beaumont and Port Arthur Texas known as Mid-Jefferson County or ‘Mid County’.
The rival talk is year round, but during game week, football in the small towns of Port Neches, Groves and Nederland Texas is backed with a level of enthusiasm that matches any area in the state. And when game night finally arrives, regardless of the outcome, both teams leave everything on the field until the next meeting.
1995 was the first year that the term ‘Mid-County Madness’ took hold. In 2014 the annual game was designated as ‘The Bum Phillips Bowl’ in honor of Texas coaching legend O.A. ‘Bum Philips’ who coached at both schools in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
The longtime rivalry is listed as the top rivalry game in Texas high school football by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.
PN-G leads the series 54-40-7.
Wins By Decade
2020–2029 PN-G 3 wins, Ned 2 wins, Average score – PN-G 29, Ned 24
2010–2019 Ned 7 wins, PN-G 3 wins, Average score – Ned 29, PNG 27
2000-2009 Ned 7 wins, PN-G 3 wins, Average score – Ned 25, PNG 21
1990-1999 PN-G 6 wins, Ned 4 wins, Average score – PNG 23, Ned 13
1980-1989 PN-G 6 wins, Ned 3 wins, 1 tie, Average score – PNG 20, Ned 9
1970-1979 PN-G 10 wins, Average score – PNG 27, Ned 9
1960-1969 PN-G 5 wins, Ned 3 wins, 2 ties, Average score – Ned 17, PNG 14
1950-1959 Ned 5 wins, PN-G 1 win, Average score – Ned 31, PNG 14
1940-1949 PN-G 4 wins, Ned 3 wins, 2 ties, Average score – PNG 21, Ned 11
1930-1939 PN-G 7 wins, Ned 3 wins, 1 tie, Average score – PNG 13, Ned 4
1920-1929 PN-G 6 wins, Ned 3 wins, 1 tie, Average score – PNG 12, Ned 4
Scores by Year
Game | Year | PN-G | Ned | Pts Diff | WLT | PN-G Head Coach | Ned Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1925 | 0 | 6 | -6 | L | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
2 | 1925 | 13 | 7 | +6 | W | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
3 | 1926 | 6 | 0 | +6 | W | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
4 | 1926 | 6 | 0 | +6 | W | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
5 | 1927 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
6 | 1927 | 22 | 0 | +22 | W | Luther Garner | C.O. Wilson |
7 | 1928 | 0 | 31 | -31 | L | Luther Garner | ? |
8 | 1928 | 0 | 25 | -25 | L | Luther Garner | ? |
9 | 1929 | 20 | 0 | +20 | W | Chester Jarrell | Jeff Traylor |
10 | 1929 | 26 | 0 | +26 | W | I.B. Griffith | Jeff Traylor |
11 | 1930 | 6 | 0 | +6 | W | I.B. Griffith | ? |
12 | 1930 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | I.B. Griffith | ? |
13 | 1931 | 32 | 0 | +32 | W | I.B. Griffith | Johnny Konechy |
14 | 1932 | 21 | 0 | +21 | W | I.B. Griffith | Johnny Konechy |
15 | 1933 | 7 | 0 | +7 | W | I.B. Griffith | Johnny Konechy |
16 | 1934 | 20 | 0 | +20 | W | I.B. Griffith | Johnny Konechy |
17 | 1935 | 27 | 6 | +21 | W | I.B. Griffith | Johnny Konechy |
18 | 1936 | 19 | 20 | -1 | L | Fred Walker | I.B. Griffith |
19 | 1937 | 0 | 13 | -13 | L | R.D. Hill | I.B. Griffith |
20 | 1938 | 14 | 0 | +14 | W | Claude Stone | I.B. Griffith |
21 | 1939 | 0 | 6 | -6 | L | Claude Stone | I.B. Griffith |
22 | 1940 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | Claude Stone | I.B. Griffith |
23 | 1941 | 2 | 0 | +2 | W | Claude Stone | I.B. Griffith |
24 | 1942 | 0 | 14 | -14 | L | Johnny Wright | I.B. Griffith |
25 | 1943 | 7 | 7 | 0 | T | Nick Frankovic | I.B. Griffith |
26 | 1944 | 0 | 18 | -18 | L | Nick Frankovic | I.B. Griffith |
27 | 1945 | 12 | 39 | -27 | L | Nick Frankovic | Harold McRae |
28 | 1946 | 35 | 3 | +32 | W | Gene McCollum | Barron Gray |
29 | 1947 | 71 | 0 | +71 | W | Gene McCollum | Barron Gray, Syd Russell |
30 | 1948 | 38 | 7 | +31 | W | Gene McCollum | Elbert Pickell |
31 | 1954 | 24 | 27 | -3 | L | Gene McCollum | Elbert Pickell |
32 | 1955 | 6 | 34 | -28 | L | Lewis Ford | Elbert Pickell |
33 | 1956 | 6 | 19 | -13 | L | Lewis Ford | O.A. Phillips |
34 | 1957 | 14 | 40 | -26 | L | Lewis Ford | Emmett McKenzie |
35 | 1958 | 36 | 22 | +14 | W | Wilford Moore | Emmett McKenzie |
36 | 1959 | 0 | 14 | -14 | L | Wilford Moore | Emmett McKenzie |
37 | 1960 | 6 | 27 | -21 | L | Wilford Moore | Emmett McKenzie |
38 | 1961 | 14 | 12 | +2 | W | Wilford Moore | Bowden Cook |
39 | 1962 | 12 | 21 | -9 | L | Wilford Moore | Bowden Cook |
40 | 1963 | 22 | 21 | +1 | W | O.A. 'Bum' Phillips | Gene Henderson |
41 | 1964 | 6 | 22 | -16 | L | O.A. 'Bum' Phillips | Gene Henderson |
42 | 1965 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T | Ken Watson | Gene Henderson |
43 | 1966 | 16 | 15 | +1 | W | Ken Watson | Gene Henderson |
44 | 1967 | 6 | 0 | +6 | W | Ken Watson | Pat Johnson |
45 | 1968 | 35 | 35 | 0 | T | Ken Watson | Pat Johnson |
46 | 1969 | 20 | 19 | +1 | W | Ken Watson | Pat Johnson |
47 | 1970 | 15 | 14 | +1 | W | Ken Watson | Pat Johnson |
48 | 1971 | 51 | 13 | +38 | W | Ken Watson | Pat Johnson |
49 | 1972 | 38 | 0 | +38 | W | Ken Watson | Neal Morgan |
50 | 1973 | 29 | 6 | +23 | W | Doug Ethridge | Neal Morgan |
51 | 1974 | 20 | 17 | +3 | W | Doug Ethridge | Neal Morgan |
52 | 1975 | 28 | 6 | +22 | W | Doug Ethridge | Neal Morgan |
53 | 1976 | 20 | 3 | +17 | W | Doug Ethridge | Don Ross |
54 | 1977 | 35 | 14 | +21 | W | Doug Ethridge | Lloyd Wasserman |
55 | 1978 | 22 | 3 | +19 | W | Doug Ethridge | Lloyd Wasserman |
56 | 1979 | 14 | 9 | +5 | W | Doug Ethridge | Lloyd Wasserman |
57 | 1980 | 35 | 0 | +35 | W | Doug Ethridge | Lloyd Wasserman |
58 | 1981 | 12 | 0 | +12 | W | Doug Ethridge | Lloyd Wasserman |
59 | 1982 | 49 | 0 | +49 | W | Doug Ethridge | Ben Hurt |
60 | 1983 | 28 | 7 | +21 | W | Doug Ethridge | Ben Hurt |
61 | 1984 | 7 | 13 | -6 | L | Butch Troy | Steve DeRouen |
62 | 1985 | 3 | 0 | +3 | W | Butch Troy | Steve DeRouen |
63 | 1986 | 12 | 21 | -9 | L | Butch Troy | Steve DeRouen |
64 | 1987 | 14 | 14 | 0 | T | Butch Troy | Steve DeRouen |
65 | 1988 | 0 | 29 | -29 | L | Butch Troy | Steve DeRouen |
66 | 1989 | 41 | 7 | +34 | W | Danny Malone | Steve DeRouen |
67 | 1990 | 27 | 0 | +27 | W | Danny Malone | Bobby August |
68 | 1991 | 23 | 6 | +17 | W | Tim Owen | Bobby August |
69 | 1992 | 54 | 0 | +54 | W | Tim Owen | Bobby August |
70 | 1993 | 14 | 28 | -14 | L | Tim Owen | Larry Neumann |
71 | 1994 | 7 | 13 | -6 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
72 | 1995 | 25 | 28 | -3 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
73 | 1996 | 17 | 14 | +3 | W | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
74 | 1997 | 7 | 28 | -21 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
75 | 1998 | 28 | 7 | +21 | W | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
76 | 1999 | 31 | 8 | +23 | W | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
77 | 2000 | 19 | 21 | -2 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
78 | 2001 | 10 | 42 | -32 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
79 | 2002 | 19 | 22 | -3 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
80 | 2003 | 23 | 14 | +9 | W | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
81 | 2004 | 13 | 19 | -6 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
82 | 2005 | 28 | 35 | -7 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
83 | 2006 | 24 | 31 | -7 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
84 | 2007 | 28 | 16 | +12 | W | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
85 | 2008 | 21 | 41 | -20 | L | Matt Burnett | Larry Neumann |
86 | 2009 | 23 | 7 | +16 | W | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
87 | 2010 | 32 | 39 | -7 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
88 | 2011 | 21 | 24 | -3 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
89 | 2012 | 12 | 37 | -25 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
90 | 2013 | 17 | 21 | -4 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
91 | 2014 | 28 | 35 | -7 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
92 | 2015 | 27 | 30 | -3 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
93 | 2016 | 41 | 21 | +20 | W | Brandon Faircloth | Larry Neumann |
94 | 2017 | 35 | 36 | -1 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Monte Barrow |
95 | 2018 | 34 | 21 | +13 | W | Brandon Faircloth | Monte Barrow |
96 | 2019 | 27 | 21 | +6 | W | Brandon Faircloth | Monte Barrow |
97 | 2020 | 22 | 21 | +1 | W | Brandon Faircloth | Monte Barrow |
98 | 2021 | 28 | 38 | -10 | L | Brandon Faircloth | Monte Barrow |
99 | 2022 | 26 | 24 | +2 | W | Jeff Joseph | Monte Barrow |
100 | 2023 | 41 | 16 | +25 | W | Jeff Joseph | Monte Barrow |
101 | 2024 | 21 | 24 | -3 | l | Jeff Joseph | Scott Rich |
Total Points | 1953 | 1494 |