Saturday, December 18, 1999
By MARK WILSON
Staff Writer
HOUSTON — What a way to close out the decade.
The top-ranked Stephenville Yellow Jackets can capture their fourth state football championship of the 1990s today with a victory over Port Neches Groves in the Class 4A Division II final in the Astrodome.
The game features a matchup of two quarterbacks each on the verge of 3,000 yards passing, leading a pair of 15-0 squads.
Stephenville hopes to extend its winning streak to 26 games, which would give the Jackets their third perfect season since 1993 under head coach Art Briles. They went 16-0 in winning both the 1993 and 1994 state crowns, and were 15-1 when they captured last year’s Division II title.
Stephenville needed a 19-yard field goal from Eben Nelson with eight seconds left in the semifinals last week against Ennis to advance with a 34-31 win. The Jackets got the ball on their own 20-yard line with 2:07 left and Nelson kicked the game-winner eight plays later.
Briles said that winning that way should give the Jackets an emotional boost.
“We have to use that momentum to carry into the state championship game,” said Briles, whose Jackets have won 36 of their last 38 games. “Winning in that fashion and that atmosphere is a big win for you. It allowed us to realize that when it’s got to be done, we can do it.
“I think we’ve always been confident, but we feel a sense of urgency to finish the job.”
Quarterbacking the Jackets is junior Kendal Briles, the coach’s son, who has 2,989 yards passing through 15 games. He has completed 194 of 338 passes with 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and has also added 1,237 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns.
For the Indians, senior quarterback Dustin Long has similar numbers — 2,930 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 194 of 361.
Senior running back Zac Hunter leads the Jackets in rushing with 1,699 yards on 214 carries, with 20 touchdowns. He also has caught 37 passes for 356 yards and two TDs.
For Port Neches Groves, Jeff Bergeron is the top rusher with 1,008 yards and six touchdowns on 134 carries. Bo Wortham has 991 yards on 169 carries, and leads the team with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Long’s No. 1 receiver is Joey Price, who has 47 catches for 800 yards with nine touchdowns.
The top receivers for Stephenville are Toby O’Neal with 40 receptions for 705 yards and eight touchdowns, and Jeremy Madkins with 41 catches for 437 yards and four scores.
The Jackets, averaging 38.6 points per game, pick up an average of 266.5 yards a game on the ground and 202.6 per game through the air. The Indians have averaged 193.6 a game rushing and 197.5 a game passing.
“They’ve got a great football team,” Briles said. “They’ve probably got the best offensive team we’ve seen the last couple of years. They’re able to run and throw the ball equally. They’ve got a great defense. They’ve got it all together, which is what you’d expect.”
Slowing down Long’s passing attack is a top priority.
“We’ve got to control their passing game,” Briles said. “They do a good job of mixing up the run and the pass. They’ve got two really good backs that complement each other.”
Briles said that the Port Neches Groves defense primarily uses a split four alignment and is very sound.
“They are well disciplined, and they show a bunch of different looks,” Briles said. “We’ve got to be patient and take what they give us.”
La Marque, which was the team Stephenville beat for all three of its state crowns, was eliminated by Port Neches Groves in the state quarterfinals, 22-6. The loss put an end to La Marque’s remarkable run of appearing in six straight Class 4A state finals.
“They’re definitely a great football team or they wouldn’t be where they’re at,” Briles said of Port Neches Groves. “Anybody that can knock off La Marque demands our respect.”
Briles said the Jackets need to take the lead early.
“I think we definitely have to get ahead of them and put them in a more predictable situation,” Briles said. “And we’ve got to make stops on them.”
Unranked Port Neches Groves qualified for the state title game with a 16-13 victory over third-ranked Schertz Clemens in the semifinals.
“I just wish last week would have been for the state championship,” said sixth-year Port Neches Groves head coach Matt Burnett. “After looking at Stephenville on video, they’ve got a tremendous football team. They’re big, they’ve got speed and they’re well coached. We’re going to have our hands full.
“After going through this and making the finals, I have a lot of respect for them because of all the things you have to go through. Playing for their fourth (state championship) says a lot for their dedication and their kids’ determination.”
Burnett said that Long, a three-year starter, has been the key to having such an outstanding season.
“We’re really surprised,” Burnett said. “We knew we had a good team. We didn’t know we’d go this far. Our quarterback has made the biggest difference. He’s just a tremendous player. The offense has kept us in these games.”
Burnett said his defense will need to be a force in the game.
“We’re going to have to make some plays defensively,” Burnett said. “We’re going to have to make some things happen because Stephenville’s offense is so explosive. We need to force the issue to keep them from scoring a ton of points. No. 2, we’ve got to take advantage of field position when we get it.”
Stephenville’s defense, which has given up 15.6 points a game, is led by linebackers Cal Jillson, Ryan Harris and Justin Monk along with free safety Brady Gunn.
The top tacklers for the Indians are linebackers Trayce Boudoin, Jared Hanks, Cody Clark and Shawn Long.
Port Neches Groves defeated Odessa Permian for the 1975 Class 5A state championship. The Indians also reached the Class 5A state title game in 1977 and lost to Plano.
Mark Wilson can be reached at 676-6775 or wilsonm@abinews.com.
Stephenville vs. Port Neches Groves
— What: Class 4A Division II state championship game
— When: 4 p.m.
— Where: Astrodome, Houston
— Records: Stephenville 15-0; Port Neches Groves 15-0
— Television: Fox Sports Net
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