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August 26, 2010

Tom Halliburton
CNHI

Port Neches-Groves kicks off its 86th football season Saturday at a Dome away from home -- farther from their Reservation than ever in history.

Those Texas Football promoters can rest assured the 72,000-seat San Antonio Alamodome will contain its share of purple shirts in the stadium and on the field when the Indians kickoff unveils at 3:45 p.m.

Golden Triangle football prestige has suffered substantially during the 21st century but it has received a state-wide opportunity to step up and be counted against a perennial Coastal Bend power.

Brownwood native Brandon Faircloth, at 33, begins his second head-coaching season on The Reservation against a Texas legend who is old enough to be his grandfather. Three Rivers native George Harris -- 72 about to be 73 -- has embarked on his 51st season of coaching and his 10th year on the north side of Corpus Christi bay.

In speaking with each one on Thursday afternoon, this veteran scribe believed the Gregory-Portland mentor sounded more filled with the customary pre-game jitters. Never mind if Harris was much more seasoned.

"To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous," said Harris, who was inducted into the Texas A&M-Kingsville sports Hall of Fame last year.

Harris observed enough purple shirts in an indoor stadium 11 years ago to convince him that PN-G has an ability to travel as well as any school anywhere.

"I saw the purple from one end of the end zone to the other end, when I saw them play once before," Harris said, recalling the massive Indians turnout in the Dome for the 1999 Class 4A state championship game against Stephenville. "I also remember they had a good quarterback (Dustin Long) and they have a heck of a quarterback now too (Brennan Doty)."

Gregory-Portland has endured two lengthy stretches of tolerating Harris, a south Texas legend who has entered the 2010 season with 186 career wins, ranking 102nd on the all-time Texas prep coaching victory list.

Harris guided the Wildcats to 12 straight titles over a 22-year stretch before heading for another successful tenure at Class 2A Refugio. The Coastal Bend homeland brought him back to G-P 10 years ago.

Gregory-Portland's calling card is defense. The "Black Shirts" return nine starters, led by all-state linebacker Preston Smallwood. The Wildcats allowed their 30-4A district foes just 11 points a game last fall, going 10-3 and reaching their third straight 4A regional playoff berth.

This rectangular-shaped indoor building really is more G-P's home over the years. The 'Cats expect to play in the Alamodome during the playoffs. Harris had hoped Gregory-Portland would be selected for the Texas Football Kickoff Classic on two previous occasions during the last decade.

"Getting to play in this game makes it more exciting but I had hoped we would get picked in 2004 and again last year," Harris said.

Although Doty was high on the list of PN-G thoughts to enter his mind, the Wildcats coach was planning to bring the far more experienced signal-caller to the Alamo city. Senior Kyle Fishbeck is making his 27th start at quarterback for G-P, but is nowhere near Doty in passing numbers.

Doty threw for 1,939 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games as a junior. Fishbeck threw for 1,077 yards and six TDs in 13 games as a junior. That's because Harris lines up in a full-house backfield and runs an slot-T or wing-T offense.

"They have big kids and they play a physical, hard-nosed brand of football," the much younger Indians' chief said in his office. "They play a lot like Livingston and Vidor do. They have done some shotgun in their scrimmages. But they're very well-coached and they play hard.

"I'm pleased about where we are. There's going to be some jitters but you can't turn down an opportunity for your kids like this. The Alamodome is a great venue. It has hosted some great games and I'm excited for our fans. It's a great compliment to our program and we've had a good week of practice."

Senior outside linebacker D.J. Schexnider sustained a lower ankle sprain earlier during the week but the 2009 Port Arthur News Super Team defender figured to start. Both teams expected to begin the year at full strength.

Fans who do not make the trip to San Antonio can watch the game on live videostream at www.panews.com. Once there, click on Friday Night Experience.

PN-GROVES VS. GREGORY-PORTLAND

When: Saturday at 3:45 p.m.

Where: Alamodome, San Antonio

Records: Barbers Hill (10-3 in '09); PN-G (11-1 in '09)

At stake: Dave Campbell's Texas Football Classic

Series: First meeting

Home designation: PN-G is designated home team

Internet: videostream on panews.com. Click on Friday Night Experience

Radio: KCOL-FM 92.5

GR.-PORTLAND OFFENSE

QB -- Kyle Fishbeck (16)

FB -- Roman Rodriguez (4)

TB -- Michael Johnson (12)

HB -- Justin McArthur (1)

SE -- Steven Roggeman (88)

TE -- Jammie Dooms (7)

LT -- Justin Vierra (75)

LG -- Tomas Trevino (57)

C -- Jared Alford (53)

RG -- Steven Rocha (64)

RT -- Cole Wilson (70)

PN-G DEFENSE

SE -- Taylor Thompson (42)

NT -- Aaron Easley (61)

WE -- Jacob Davis (46)

OLB -- D.J. Schexnider (33)

ILB -- Michael Glorioso (47)

ILB -- Ryan St. Clair (34)

OLB -- Josh Bowie (20)

LCB -- Justin Sperl (21)

RCB -- Hunter Knox (6)

SS -- Connor Manuel (14)

FS -- Tanner Jorgensen (13)

PN-G OFFENSE

LWR -- Collin Gizzi (15)

LT -- Kyler Nicotre (70)

LG -- Gabe Langlois (79)

C -- Ben Parks (53)

RG -- Patrick Braud (64)

RT -- Greg Lunceford (77)

RWR -- Jayce Nelson (4)

SLOT -- Amir Jalali (10)

WB -- Matt Desmond (11)

QB -- Brennan Doty (18)

RB -- Chase Bertrand (26)

GR.-PORTLAND DEFENSE

LT -- Traylor Nolte (62)

NG -- Mac McMillon (55)

RT -- Patrick Frost (58)

LOLB -- Brode Harrington (21)

ROLB -- Jared Dement (44)

LILB -- Preston Smallwood (42)

RILB -- Aaron Garza (43)

LCB -- Shelby Hahn (24)

RCB -- Justin McArthur (1)

FS -- Jimmy Salinas (6)

SS -- Ervin Polasek (3)

Directions to San Antonio's Alamodome

Travel west on I-10 and merge onto I-37 (exit 574). Immediately on I-37, take exit 140B -- Durango Blvd./Alamodome -- and stay on the access road to Market Street. The Alamodome is located at the intersection of Market and Montana Streets with a physical address of 100 Montana Street.

Fans should allow at least five hours of travel time and be prepared for ever-present I-10 delays going through west Houston. Limited parking is available on the east and south sides of the facility.

PN-G's game will be the fourth of five games in the 12th annual Dave Campbell's Texas Football kickoff classic.

The complete list includes Thursday's 7:30 game between Uvalde and Seguin; Friday's 7:30 game between Abilene and Belton; Saturday's noon game between Richmond Foster and El Paso Hanks; Saturday's 3:45 game between Port Neches-Groves and Gregory-Portland and Saturday's 7:30 game between Georgetown and Killeen Harker Heights.

Source: http://panews.com/sports/x1984937851/PN-G-Wildcats-open-Saturday-in-SA