Going into the first game of the season, the offense was the big question mark of the 2000 version of the PN-G Indians. The Crosby defense, with 7 starters returning from last year’s 21-4A district championship team, proved to be a good test.
Playing without starting center Justin Mercer (6-3 220) and tackle Michael Thibodeaux (6-6 302), the inexperienced Indian offense struggled early on against a large Crosby defensive line. The first Indian possession ended in an intercepted pass.
As the game progressed, flashes of the potent offense that was their hallmark during the 1999 season were ocassionally evident. Junior quarterback Kirk Hallmark began finding his range near the end of the first half.
On the Indians second possession of the second half, Hallmark hit wide receiver Joey Price with a spectacular 42 yard pass to the Crosby 11 yard line. Four plays later, the 6,000 strong PN-G contingent who traveled to Baytown erupted as Jeff Bergeron scored the first PN-G touchdown of the year.
That proved to be enough as the Indian defense limited Crosby to around 100 yards, half of that yardage coming in the first 3 posessions of the game. Suffocating play from the defensive line and linebackers resulted in several stops behind the line and a couple of fumbles caused by hard hits. One crushing tackle resulted in a fumble recovery at the Crosby 24 yard just before half time. The Indians could not capitalize on the play as time ran out.
In the second half, the Cougars were held to around 30 yards in 6 posessions. The Cougars only chance of scoring on the night came after the Indians fumbled a punt at their 29 yard line. The defense held and the Cougars missed a 40 yard field goal.
Offensively, PN-G made noticeable progress in the second half as the Indians picked up the majority of their yardage.
The expected strong play of Michael Brignac, Jeremy Davis, Jared Gary, Trayce Boudoin and Cody Clark was evident on defense. Junior linebacker Brady Flores and senior Jeff LeBlanc made some impressive hits on Crosby runners. Starting offensive guard Elliot Adams also started the game at defensive end. Senior defensive back Troy Cooley intercepted a pass in the second half.
