GAMES
RANKINGS
PNG; FB Marshall poised atop DISTRICT 9-5A-DII Rankings
DISTRICT 9-5A-DII
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS (Playoff teams in bold)
Port Neches-Groves Indians
FB Marshall Buffs
Dayton Broncos
Texas City Stings
Nederland Bulldogs
Santa Fe Indians
Willowridge Eagles
Galena Park Yellowjackets
...
Most Valuable Player
Shea Adams, PN-G
Offensive Player of the Year
Caleb Bell, Texas City
Defensive Player of the Year
Joshua Lair, FB Marshall
Breakout Player of the Year
Kendron Penson Jr., Willowridge
On the Cusp
Texas City
...
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2023 VYPE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS
...
The first year of Jeff Joseph leading Port Neches-Groves couldn’t have gone any better. The son of legendary coach Gary Joseph (Katy HC) led the Indians to AT&T Stadium in his first season and fell just short to South Oak Cliff in the title game. It was PN-Gs first title game appearance since 1999. Now, can they win their first title since 1975 in 2023? The run game is in good shape for the Indians. Isaiah Nguyen rushed for more than 1,200 yards and six scores, followed by Shea Adams’ 800-plus yard year and 23 scores. Adams also had 429 yards and five touchdowns receiving. Offensive tackle Jackson Christian (6-5, 309) will be a force to open holes. Christian already has offers from Texas, North Texas, Texas State and UTSA. Sean Gardiner is the returning leading tackler for PN-G (46), while Kameron Drodd (45) and Jonathan Hernandez (43) are right behind.
Fort Bend Marshall is loaded with talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Start with three-star safety Joshua Lair and then go down the list… DBs Caleb Chester and William Mitchell, and DL Koryn Randals are high-level recruits. They have the talent on defense to be special. The offense is a different story as the Buffs lose a lot. They do return Ja’Kayden Ferguson, who has 15 offers and is rated as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025. Other key returners include Andre Feast (WR - 4 offers), Jarrod Howard (RB) and Jonathan Haynes (RB). The Buffs fell to PN-G in the Regional Finals a year ago, now the district mates get a rematch in Week 4 (9/22) on the road.
Dayton has been building back up under Blake Ware since he arrived. The Broncos have been an impressive turnaround story. From going 0-10 in Ware’s first year in 2020 to going 7-4 in 2023 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Ware was a part of the coaching staff in New Caney when that program was turned around. Now, he’s doing the same in Dayton. Denim Foster steps in at QB1 and will have Braeden White (427 yards, 6 TDs) as one of his top targets. Andrew Soliz will pace the defense after racking up 95 tackles a year ago. Other key returners include Jakari Cooper (3 INTs), Jeremiah Stevens (27 tackles, 2 sacks) and Hayden Campbell (64 tackles).
Texas City has been in the playoffs in back-to-back years. The Stingarees will be paced by the run game as Caleb Bell is coming off a 1,300-yard rushing campaign. Quarterback Joey Duran can do his own damage through the air after passing for more than 1,300 yards. Defensively, Camryn Grief will give offensive units grief after registering more than 80 tackles and also reeled in four interceptions in 2022. Szyron Scott is another name to remember after a double-digit sack season with an even dozen.
Nederland and Santa Fe were right on the cusp of making the playoffs in 2022. Key returners for the Bulldogs includes Hubert Thomas (RB), Ayden Sunday (QB) and Ellis Walker (LB), while the Indians bring back Kase Albrecht (QB), Franklin Alfaro (TE/DE) and Joseph Floyd (RB/LB). Willowridge and Galena Park look to rise from the bottom of the standings after just one district win between the two in 2022. Willowridge has Kendron Penson Jr., son of head coach Kendron Penson, at QB1. Penson Jr. passed for over 1,400 yards a year ago. Other key returners for Willowridge include Athony Lattimore (WR), Travis Willis (CB/WR) and Rome Jackson (WR/DB). Galena Park has Daniel Gomez (QB), Francisco Martinez (RB), Jordan Balderas (RB), Diego Quintanilla (DE) and Israel Barboza (LB) set to return.
THE CHIEF: PNG’s Adams Ready To Lead Team On Another State Run
A new football season is approaching in Texas and the excitement for the return of Friday Night lights in Texas is heating up.
From the state favorites to the cinderella stories, nothing is better than Texas high school football.
Last year, one of the biggest stories was Port Neches-Groves, who made it to the 5A State Championship game for the first time since 1999. The Indians finished as runner-ups to South Oak Cliff, but this year the Indians look ready for another State run.
Class of 2024 ATH Shea Adams was the leader on the offense on last year’s State. With an upcoming senior year approaching, Adams will look to avenge last year’s State title game loss.
VYPE caught up with Adams about his football journey, his recruitment, the upcoming season and more.
Adams, like most high school athletes, started playing football at a young age and found his first “true love”.
“I’ve played football from the first day I could,” Adams said. “Growing up playing flag football to little league, I haven’t looked back since. Football has always been my love.”
The Indians' playoff run was magical to say the least as many media outlets predicting an early playoff exit for the Indians. For Adams and his teammates, they saw that as a sign to wake up the state.
“The run to State last year was magical for us, not a single report had us to make it past the second round. We proved them wrong and brought our high school to State for the first time in over 20 years.”
Photo By: Leo Weeks Photographyinfo@leoweeksphotographers.com
At 6-foot-5, 205-pounds, Adams was all over the field last fall making plays at wide receiver and quarterback, accounting for 1,450 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns. This year, Adams will be playing more at quarterback, but the position is not something new for him.
“Growing up, I was always played at QB, so the transformation from the utility guy to just quarterback shouldn’t be too hard," he said. "I just need to polish up my passing game.”
Though Adams might need to touch up on his passing attack for this Fall, he will have his biggest strength of his game ready come game one.
“The strongest part of my game is definitely running the ball, using my legs and the physicality I play with to be successful,” he said.
Last year’s playoff run sent shockwaves throughout the state and woke up a lot of people, especially college coaches. Since the end of the State game, Adams has picked up offers from Lamar, UIW, Navy, Army, Air Force, Dartmouth and La Tech. So, what’s the boost in the recruiting process been like?
“The recruitment process has been so crazy,” he said. “I’m truly blessed to have received the offers I have so far. I just plan on continuing to work hard and pick up more offers.”
PNG has seen some athletes go on and have success at the next level and the pros, most recently Roschon Johnson who was just drafted after a successful college career. For Adams, he looks to be the next guy up and pass the torch to the next generation.
“Growing up, I remember watching Roschon and some other very good PNG players that went on to play college," he said. "I always looked up to them and wanted to be like them, so I am very glad to be able to be that for younger kids and be a good role model for them.”
The Southeast Texas and PNG communities love their football. Those who play in these areas live on in the folk lore of those communities. For Adams, representing SETX and PNG is an experience like any other.
“Playing for PNG has been everything for me,” Adams said. “I truly believe that we have the best community and coaches in high school football, and I’m honored to be able to represent our high school and SETX football.”
Shea Adams and the PNG Indians are primed for a big season this Fall and though the team is young... the expectations are high.
“We are going to have a much younger team this year but my goal is to build a strong chemistry with this team," he said. "We want to start off better this season in the game against Port Author Memorial and to make another deep playoff run.”