The P.A.News article:
September 4, 2010
Tribe 'gets physical,' rips Crosby 38-7
Tom Halliburton CNHI
PORT NECHES — PORT NECHES -- Brandon Faircloth and Joe Dale Cary borrowed a halftime request from their dear friend, Olivia Newton-John, exhorting the offensive line to "get physical" after halftime Friday night.
The keenest ears in the Port Neches-Groves locker room belonged to Greg Lunceford, Kyler Nicotre, Patrick Braud, Ben Parks and Gabe Langlois. An upstart ball carrier named Chase Bertrand also heard the message from Faircloth, his head coach, and Cary, the offensive line coach.
Bertrand did not set the world on fire for a half, gaining but 40 yards on 10 carries. But Olivia's famous words had not been delivered yet. The physical idea influenced the Indians to keep the ball 16 minutes and 11 seconds of the second half and roll to a 38-7 victory over Crosby at Indian Stadium.
PN-G (1-1) basically wore down the smaller Cougars (0-2) and the gashes in Crosby's defense began to enlarge wider and wider after the Indians owned only a 10-0 halftime advantage.
"We were told to be more physical," Bertrand said after ripping out his first 100-yard outing in his varsity No. 26.
The Indians running back carried 26 times for 170 yards and one touchdown. When he arrived in the winning locker room, Chase paid tribute to his blockers too.
"They were great," he said. "As the game went on, there were huge holes to run through."
Honestly, everything about PN-G's second-half performance looked great, even though Crosby owned more first downs and total yards at halftime.
Quarterback Brennan Doty had the better night of two well-respected passers, completing 12 of 18 for 178 yards and four touchdowns. Crosby counterpart Dominic Merka was 14 of 33 for 193 yards and a score, but two interceptions.
Here's the misleading aspect of Merka's night, though. The Crosby passer was 4 of 12 for 41 yards with two interceptions at the end of three quarters. The Indians had a 31-0 upper hand before the TCU pledge ever piled up his numbers.
"Give credit to coach (Indians defensive coordinator Duane) Kroeker," the Indians chief Faircloth said. "Our defense held a great quarterback in check."
PN-G's defense did not try to suffocate Crosby by any means. The Indians linebackers and corners loosened the space at the line of scrimmage and allowed themselves a cushion to cope with Crosby's speed and Merka's virtuoso skills as a runner and thrower.
Crosby ran for a net of 15 second-half yards at the same time that PN-G's offensive line was bringing out the hammer.
"They (PN-G's offensive linemen) were getting fired up," a fiery Indians defender D.J. Schexnider said. "The thing we did in the second half was eliminate the gaps in the middle so they couldn't run the ball."
PN-G's starting receivers showed good speed on this outing too. Amir Jalali grabbed five balls for 81 yards and two scores. Jayce Nelson looked like a faster version of Spencer DeRon, catching five for 58. Collin Gizzi had 2 for 39 and has seemed to be good for at least one big play night after night.
Were the Indians disappointed to enter this home opener with an 0-1 record?
"We were shocked," Jalali said. "It brought us back to reality. We almost thought we would never lose."
The senior baseball-football standout, Jalali, made one of the night's more pivotal plays with 2:01 left in the opening half. Facing a 1st and 20 after a holding penalty, Doty faked the run to Bertrand and lobbed a pass to the back of the end zone. Jalali had dashed behind three Crosby defensive backs to get enough space for the 24-yard touchdown reception.
That catch lifted PN-G ahead a more comfy 10-0 at half, instead of a queasy 3-0. Olivia Newton-John's message was conveyed shortly after that
"In the second half, I thought we got a little tired," Crosby coach Kevin Flanigan said. "We weren't as physical. But you can't turn it over four times and you have to finish drives."
Schexnider and Hunter Knox intercepted Merka who had two other disasters in the first half's final three minutes. A high snap sailed over punter Merka's head, setting up the Indians' first touchdown.
Crosby answered back, moving from its 27 to PN-G's 21 in the half's final minute. Merka kept the ball on an apparent quarterback draw. Safety Tanner Jorgensen jarred the ball loose and end Christian Shetley claimed the free ball for PN-G on the Tribe's 14.
The Indians will hope to remember Olivia Newton-John's song again next week when they will visit Texas City.
