Harmon made BH sick of Cherokee
Published November 14, 2009 01:11 am
By Cody Pastorella
The Port Arthur News
BAYTOWN — If the Port Neches-Groves Indian band played Cherokee 100 times in Friday night’s 21-7 bidistrict win over Barbers Hill, Caleb Harmon had to have inspired the fight song 90 of those occasions.
The Caleb Harmon show featured all three of the Tribe’s touchdowns and 205 yards on 40 carries.
Behind the Indians’ buffet busters, Harmon skipped his way to a 4-yard score in the second quarter, a 10-yard TD in the third and punched in a two-yard run for good measure late in the fourth.
The determined senior tailback wanted to give all the glory to his offensive line but was roped into taking some of the credit. After all, he practically took it upon himself to break the 7-7 halftime tie by producing a rough and tough seven yards on a 2nd-and-8 that saved a much needed scoring drive.
On that play, Harmon took a sweep to the right that should have ended in at least a loss of two yards. Instead, he broke one tackle to get back to the line of scrimmage, then broke two more tackles for one yard where he entered a flock of Eagles and drove them for another six.
Two plays later, on 4th-and-1, he banged out two yards for a first down at Barbers Hill’s 16-yard line. He followed that with a 4-yard carry and then found a hole for a 10-yard sprint that gave his team the go-ahead touchdown, which capped a 73-yard drive that took 6:14 off the clock.
“I was determined to get a first down,” Harmon said about his heroic 7-yard effort. “I didn’t want to lose. We fought too hard and worked too hard not to win. We were determined as a team and we played with a lot of heart. And the offensive line made it all possible. All the touchdowns were short yardage and that’s the offensive line that made that happen.”
Harmon’s 40 attempts matched his career high that he set against Livingston earlier in the season. And he said he was ready for another 40, had it been needed.
PN-G coach Brandon Faircloth did not realize his horse carried the ball so much but was definitely pleased with the results.
“Heart and determination,” Faircloth said. “That’s what he has been for 11 games now.”
Faircloth added that he did not set out for Harmon to run 40 times. He said his play calling is dictated based on the flow of the game.
“I go on feeling. I go on what’s working,” said Faircloth, whose team improves to 11-0 overall. “I go on feeling and I guess No. 7 came to mind quite a bit tonight.”
Time of possession was certainly a big part of the Indians’ success and Harmon’s domination as he guided PN-G to 23 first downs. That stat, coupled with a strong second-half performance from PN-G’s defense only allowed Barbers Hill 5:43 with the ball.
Harmon and his offensive line also answered the ball of the Tribe’s offensive line coach, Joe Dale Cary, who used the season opener against Barbers Hill as motivation for his men.
“I reminded them (the line) that Barbers Hill was the only team to hold (Harmon) under 100 yards,” Cary explained. “I challenged the guys to get 100.”
Mission accomplished.
it was a good game
it was a good game