By I.C. Murrell | PANews.com
Published 10:18 pm Friday, November 30, 2018
BAYTOWN — The same speed that helped Fort Bend Marshall win the UIL 5A state track and field championship was displayed on grass Friday night.
Marshall had four touchdown plays of 25 or more yards — including a 52-yard punt return — and Port Neches-Groves struggled to catch the undefeated Buffalos, who stampeded to a 53-14 victory in Stallworth Stadium on Friday night.
PNG (9-4) was stymied in the 5A Division Region III semifinal round for the third straight year. The Indians, who had 10 or more wins each of the past two seasons, will try to make their first regional final in 20 seasons next year.
Indians coach Brandon Faircloth had hoped to take away the run from the Buffaloes (13-0), who averaged about 270 of their 405 total yards per game rushing the ball going into Friday. The Buffaloes had 178 rushing yards at the half, but benefited more from the passing of junior Malik Hornsby, who went 5 for 10 for 182 yards and touchdown passes to Devon Achane and Dalevon Campbell, starting 4 for 4 in the process.
Jerry Davis had three touchdown runs (37, 4 and 10 yards) and Hornsby ran for his second touchdown of the game to put the Buffs up 53-7. A 67-yard sprint by PNG senior Jaylan Williams narrowed that gap in the fourth quarter.
The Indians did not convert a first down until their third series, when they marched 42 yards in 13 plays. That drive ended on downs, however.
Marshall led 24-0 before PNG finally got on the board with quarterback Roschon Johnson’s 20-yard carry with 5:38 left before halftime. Johnson carried 13 times for 77 yards at the half.
Injury report
PNG defensive lineman Don Trusclair was carted off with 4:10 left in the third quarter following Hornsby’s third touchdown. A cast was placed on his right leg, but the extent of his injury was not immediately known.
The game changed when …
Marshall faced just third-and-1 on its opening drive. The Indians contained the Buffs on two short runs, but the first pass the Buffs tried — Hornsby’s swing to Devon Achane — went 66 yards for the first score. Marshall never trailed since.
The game ball goes to …
Davis, who ran 13 times for 169 yards through three quarters.
Next up …
Fort Bend Marshall will take on either Marshall of northeast Texas or Huntsville for the regional championship. Those two teams will play Saturday night at Frisco’s Ford Center.
