Back-to-back? PN-G staying focused as they begin state title defense

Everyone knows banners hang forever — the Port Neches-Groves faithful are still riding the high of their team’s first state football championship since 1974. Now nearly a year removed from the historic title game, the PN-G Indians are looking for more.

What’s better than one championship? Back-to-back trophies, of course.

The community and team alike have title hopes. In the meantime, third-year head coach Jeff Joseph is ensuring his players remain grounded and focused on the task at hand.

“The things that we accomplished last year were accomplished because of the work that was done last year,” Joseph said. “To accomplish things like that, you have to do that same type of work. It’s not going to happen because it happened last year. It’s going to happen because you work for it, and that’s our mentality headed into the fall.”

Although the team lost some key contributors from last year’s title team, they still have plenty of talent and Joseph’s leadership means players will be put in the most advantageous situation possible. In short, expect them to be in the mix for a potential repeat.

PN-G returns seven starters on offense. Games are won in the trenches and the team retains most of its championship-caliber offensive line, including star University of Texas commit Jackson Christian and fellow OL staple Aaron Wolford.

That line will provide the basis for a run game led by junior Blair Chatagnier, who rushed for over 1,300 yards last season.

Connor Bailey enters his second year under center for Port Neches-Groves. The junior quarterback filled in admirably for an injured Shea Adams last season before taking over the starting job. He led the team throughout the second half of the title run and showed a great deal of poise in the process.

“Connor has grown physically,” Joseph said. “He’s a little taller, a little bigger, and has more understanding of what we’re trying to do, and where we’re trying to attack with what we’re calling on offense.”

The loss of Reid Richard and Adams hurts the pass-catching corps. However, London Nunley steps into the WR1 role as a proven contributor. Jayce Neeb caught a few passes at the varsity level last year, as did a couple of other depth players who will round out the receiver room.

It is worth noting that a new coach will take over play-calling duties on offense following the departure of former Offensive Coordinator and receivers coach Cade McCrary. Now, QBs coach Colin Gizzi will assume the OC role and call the offense.

PN-G’s defense has a few more holes to fill than their offensive counterparts, but the unit should remain a force to be reckoned with.

The front seven will go about business as usual — see ball, hit ball. Defensive linemen Jonathan Hernandez and Kash Barnwell will beef up the trenches, while linebackers Mason Wuenschel and Isaac Uriostegui are the basis of a linebacker group renowned for their speed and run-stopping prowess.

Five defensive backs from last year’s roster have graduated, leaving a handful of gaps to fill in the back end of the defense. Seth Brisboe will move to DB from offense. Otherwise, Joseph said there’s been a healthy amount of competition through fall camp and several younger players are vying for starting spots.

The concerns about the secondary aren’t major though. After all, Joseph and his staff have a knack for putting guys exactly where they need to be in order to succeed. The best coaches maximize their talent; PN-G certainly does.

“We’re working on developing leaders and seniors that are going to step up and speak to each other,” Joseph said. “We want them to hold each other accountable and do the little things that matter every day.
“We’re gonna take this thing small seasons at a time. We have our three non-district games that we try to make ourselves better in, and then head into district. We’re gonna do everything we can to try to win this championship and make the playoffs.”

Port Neches-Groves will begin their title defense with an away game at Klein Oak, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

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