Darth Texas

I wish PNG and PAM had played this year. I don’t think PnG would score, but that’s the point. I would have liked to see us have to face a team in the early season that can stop the things we’re good at so we get experience with the emotions of executing well even when the results aren’t coming. And, I think the PNg defense could use reps against that speed — We’d have played well on defense, but it would have been humbling, and very, very good playoff prep. On the other hand, if i’m a port Arthur fan, I’d want the same thing, so I’d leave png off the table and try to play summer creek or north shore.

Port Arthur is emerging as a juggernaut. I just saw they’ve allowed only 24 points TOTAL in district. Has Memorial ever had a defense this good? (Not counting TJ or Lincoln years). Current projections have them set up to meet La Porte in the third round. I’d pick Port Arthur in that matchup, and I think La Porte is about as good as anyone in 5ad1. All of that to say, Baytown Sterling’s not winning this game.

I don’t think Montgomery being at home is going to be a factor. PNG has only lost two away games in the Joseph era (20-2 overall)(that’s not counting neutral site playoff games). Our last loss away was to Port Arthur in week 1 of the 2023 season. Our last loss away to a 5ad2 team was in September 2022 against Fort Bend Marshall. None of that has any effect on this week’s game, but it’s to show that this staff and team do a good job overcoming whatever a team’s home field advantage might be.

On paper, this is a good matchup for Nederland. Nederland’s biggest strength is its agressive run defense. They’re capable of doing the most important thing for stopping the Huntsville offense: Attack the backfield and get to the runner before he can break into open field. On the other side, Huntsville’s defense hasn’t been very good in any game, so Nederland can hope to get some points. The problem is Nederland’s execution, which mostly hasn’t improved all season. That will be the difference. Mistakes, fumbles, missed blocks, poorly timed plays will give Nederland short drives and Huntsville more chances to score . Huntsville wins 28-14.

I would love for this to be a PNG blowout. But it’s pure arrogance to look at this Montgomery team and say we’re going to blow them out. Watch their film — Where’s the obvious weakness? Can we play with them? Yes. Can we beat them? Yes. Is the answer to both questions also “yes” for Montgomery? Yes.

50/50 game. Montgomery is dangerous. They really haven’t had any hiccups on offense, and no hiccups on defense since the Dayton game. They’re more than capable of beating PNG. Numbers-wise, the Bears average about a td per game better than PNG, and PNG’s about 4 points better on defense. That’s a wash in my mind - These are two equal teams. PNG’s going to need its best defensive performance since La Porte to contain Montgomery’s RB. And our play calling has to be smart. We can’t afford to waste drives trying to get long pass plays that take too long to develop. We wasted three drives against Nederland (one in the second half, two to start the third) - We were bailed out by Nederland’s mistakes. Montgomery won’t make those mistakes. And the Montgomery pass rush is better than that of any team we’ve played (exception possibly for La Porte). We need to hold the ball, burn the clock, and play keep away. I want first downs, not tries for quick touchdowns (if quick TDs happen, fine, but we don’t need to call plays like we have to score right that second). Short, quick high-percentage passes. And delete whatever was that play that led to Nederland’s interception last night from the playbook. PNG can get this one — If our run defense is tough and we keep the ball moving, we can get another W.

A big question that keeps going unanswered in the articles I’ve found: Attorneys for the parents allege that the ISD knew of previous criminal behavior from Coach’s son, and part of their evidence for it is the parents were sent a letter acknowledging the incidents. Why on earth would the parents not have gone straight to the police after the first incidents? Every single person involved is required by law to have notified the police if they were aware of child abuse.

That explains why he wasn’t in the rotation earlier. He’s going to be really good.

What grade is he?

LC should be favored against West Fork. And I think you’re right about Huntsville being 3rd. Even if either PNG or Montgomery loses both of their next two, they’d be 5-2 but have the head-to-head vs Huntsville. Next week is for the 1 seed and at least a piece of the district championship.

I don’t think we need those deep pass plays hardly ever, and if Nederland had been better tonight our attempt to do those plays would have given them the ability to get back into it. I guarantee if we’re up against Montgomery, or any good team, and we gift them short drives while trying to execute low-percentage deep passes, they’ll punish us.

Good game bulldogs

I love the way Nederland does the national anthem. I’ll take a good instrumental version over a choir any day.

Montgomery’s so good. They really haven’t been slowed down at all, or allowed many points, since the Dayton game.

No idea

Happy Mid County Madness Eve! Make sure to put out milk and cookies for Bum Phillips (or beer, I don’t know what he was into)

Barbers Hill had a former png guy as their band director a few years back (maybe still does) and their band learned Cherokee for trolling purposes. I don’t know if they ever used it against us. I heard that from a Barbers Hill band kid.

If anyone wanted to play Nederland’s fight song they’d first have to learn what it sounds like. Everyone knows PNG’s fight song.

Nederland ISD knew there was a problem because people were calling Nederland ISD. I called Nederland and the person who answered directly told me they knew there was a problem. I was given a number to call at PayK12, where I left a message (never got a call back). I left a message about 15 minutes later (to this day, still no call back. At every possible level PayK12 has been terrible). It’s not about punishing or blaming Nederland — I understand unexpected things happen But now it’s about Nederland admin doing what it can do to make THEIR mistake right (they selected PayK12, they should have made sure payk12 could handle the traffic). There is always room on the side of the field. In 2023 they had Wade Phillips and about 30 other VIPs sitting at the end zone opposite the band in Nederland. Today the admin could easily identify who was harmed and accommodate them, something they are apparently not doing. It’s not a fire issue - it’s an effort issue.

Nederland should do more to fix the problem with the tickets. You’ve got people who paid for tickets only to find out they were double-sold. I say open up seating for everyone who thought in good faith that they had tickets. The more people the merrier, especially for something as important to our community as this one. And, this was a massive screw up by the administration. It’s not as if they were unaware of the amount of volume the website would get for this game, and blaming it on payK12 isn’t good enough — They should have made sure they were ready to host a game of this size, and that includes picking a ticketing provider that can handle it. The best way to make it right is to open up expanded seating. A refund is a slap in the face - People want to see the game, not get their money back.

The run onto the field with the flag and the stare down of the PNG side was certainly disrespectful - I’m not sure Nederland would/will allow that on their field.

Crosby’s crawling back to strength. La Porte is full steam ahead. Perfect recipe for a classic night. If I wasn’t going to be watching MCM I’d be at this one.

We still have to get through the madness that is next week, Montgomery is more than good enough to beat us, and Dayton’s offense is no joke - If they catch us off guard they can pull us into a shootout.

!!:35/41/4 4:32 left