Football Preview 2023

2023 FRIDAY NIGHT

FOOTBALL

SPECIAL

SUPPLEMENT TO

Memorial

Port Neches-Groves

Nederland

Lamar University

Local schedules

Ayden Sunday

Tai’yion King

Shea Adams

Kyndon Fuselier

CONTENTS

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FOOTBALL 2023

PUBLISHER: Stephen Hemelt

DESIGNER: Candace Hemelt

CONTRIBUTORS: Chris Moore, Keagan Smith and Mark Pachuca

Chris Moore/The News Najiya Green, No. 18, breaks a tackle during the first half of the Titans’ playoff win Nov. 11 at Memorial Stadium. The Titans won 48-41 over McKinney North in the Region II Class 5A-Division I Bi-District Round of the playoffs.

Titans ready for 2023 following playoff breakthrough

Friday night lights are almost here, and the Memorial High School Titans have been preparing for months for the 2023 season.

The Titans are looking to continue building on last year’s success. The team is fresh off the heels of an impressive 11-2 campaign that culminated in a district title and a third-round playoff appearance.

As the upcoming season approaches, the Titans are hungry for more.

“We just want to continue doing the same thing we’ve been doing and make a deeper run in the playoffs,” head coach Brian Morgan said earlier this summer.

“We’re improving and having a really good spring and summer so far. Right now, we’re just trying to keep getting better and understand that we’ve set a standard here of winning.”

The Titans will play the same way as before — they’ll rely on a fast, dynamic offense to break big plays, combined with a hard-hitting and versatile defense.

However, this year’s team will look quite different from its previous iteration. Morgan said while he feels the team has a good core coming back, there are many roster holes to fill following

Chris Moore/The News

The Memorial High School football Titans take the field during the 2022 state playoffs.

the departure of last year’s senior class.

The Titans’ biggest changes come on offense, as they’re set to return just five starters. Perhaps the most significant loss comes at quarterback. Former star Davion Wilson elevated his teammates’ play last year — now that he’s graduated, lofty expectations remain for his

successor.

Enter the Titans’ answer to the quarterback conundrum, Cobe Stoever.

Morgan spoke highly of the senior signal-caller and said he’s proud of Stoever’s development over the offseason.

“Cobe was good enough last year to start here

and probably start with most of the teams around here,” said Morgan. “He’s a little different than some of the past quarterbacks we’ve had, but he’s probably a better thrower than most of them. It’s really just having him not just grow football-wise, but grow as a leader now.”

The defense consists of a more experienced group, with eight starters returning for another run.

Morgan said the defense is brimming with talent at all three levels, so he expects the players to take the next steps toward a productive season.

The defensive back tandem of Daevon Iles, Nolan White and Brock King should strike fear into opposing quarterbacks.

Linebacker Tai’yion King is already gaining major attention from colleges as a sophomore and is set for a big year.

Three players on the defensive line already have starting experience on the varsity squad, so they should be a more seasoned group as well.

“Football is important in Port Arthur,” Morgan said.

“It’s been important long before I was born, and I’ve seen the high expectations to win and be successful. We’ve got some players that I think have the ability to do it, but nobody’s gonna just give it to us. We’re gonna have to go out there and play for sure.”

— Written by Keagan Smith

Chris Moore/The News Titans players battle for the football near the endzone of their 2022 playoff victory over McKinney North.

“Each team is different.” PNG welcomes new squad.

With the 2023 football season just over the horizon, expectations are lofty as ever for the Port Neches-Groves Indians.

Last year’s Cinderella run to an appearance in the state championship game marked one of the best seasons in school history. As PNG prepares for the upcoming campaign, head coach Jeff Joseph understands just how high the bar has been set. The entire program is hungry for another shot at the state title, which barely evaded them — now, they’ll look to recreate that success despite some major roster changes.

“I think you just have to remind yourself that each team is different,” Joseph said. “Each team is unique, so it’s a whole new set of challenges that we’re facing this year. We lost 39 seniors last year, so that’s a ton to replace. It’s nice to have high expectations, but going into the season, I

think we all have to be aware that there’s gonna be a little bit of a target on us.”

The offense is nearly an all-new group, with just four starters returning.

The unit is led by a familiar face in senior Shea Adams, who is transitioning into the full-time quarterback job.

The gifted athlete scored 31 touchdowns last year while being deployed in a variety of ways at receiver, tight end and quarterback.

“I envision Shea growing as a vocal leader that our team can rally around,” Joseph said. “Athletically he can do just about anything on the football field, so he’s pretty gifted in that regard. He makes our life pretty easy because he’s such a smart kid.”

Standout tackle Jackson Christian, who started 15 games as a sophomore, is expected to improve even more after a long offseason in the weight room.

Chris Moore/The News Reid Richard, No. 28, celebrates after an interception. Indians coaches describe him as a mainstay in the PNG defensive secondary.

Junior London Nunley emerged as a receiving threat in the playoffs and may also be in for a big year.

While the PNG defense lost several key contributors from the state-qualifying team, it is still a fairly experienced group. A number of players expected to be at the top of the depth chart have been on the field during big games.

Reid Richard is a mainstay at cornerback, while John Hernandez started 14 games at nose tackle.

Sean Gardiner, Dylan Talbert and Isaac Uriostegui all started several games at linebacker, as well.

“I want us to look like a team that plays with great effort on defense,” Joseph said. “We want 11 guys flying to the football and being physical. That’s really the goal for our whole team, to play with tremendous effort.”

Putting in that extra effort has been a primary focus for the team throughout the offseason. Joseph said the players have made big strides in the weight room building core and lower body strength, which should help players match up better against bigger opponents.

Joseph also spoke about the importance of building team chemistry, especially when considering how different 2023’s

team looks compared to the 2022 Indians.

“One of the big things our team was able to accomplish last year was gaining the camaraderie and the team mentality that’s necessary to win football games,” he said.

“You hope you build that through the structure of your program, including what we do in the offseason and what we do over the summer. Making those guys work and do it together is a big part of what we believe in, and that’s what’s going to lead to us being a better team in the future.”

The second-year head coach has truly rejuvenated the PNG program. Joseph also feels coaches and players have a head start due to bringing back the entire staff; now they just have to keep the momentum going.

“We control what we can control in this building and at practice,” Joseph said. “We just have to really narrow our focus on improving ourselves and making our team the best version of itself. That’s what our goal is — we’re gonna put our best foot forward and play as hard as we can, every chance we get on Friday nights.”

— Written by Keagan Smith

Chris Moore/The News Sean Gardiner, No. 7, leaps in an attempt to bat down a pass during the Indians’ 56-13 win over the visiting Willowridge Eagles in October 2022.

Young Dogs maturing into reliable Nederland players

On a scorching June afternoon in Nederland, some 60 Bulldogs football players took the field for the team’s summer program.

The open facility provided no shade; nowhere to hide from the temperatures that crept into the mid 90s.

This was not unlike playing in a game. A player cannot hide on a field. If he is ill prepared, other coaches and players know it and take advantage.

That mental and physical toughness has defined Nederland football for decades and is still being molded.

Last year, a young Nederland team finished 2-8 on the season (2-5 in District 9-5A Division II). The then sophomore-heavy team was competitive in games against ranked opponents. The team is still relatively young with only 11 seniors slated to suit up in the black and gold this season.

Led by seventh-year head coach Monte Barrow, the Bulldogs hope to bring some of that momentum into the fall.

“Having everyone here in the summer is a big plus,” Barrow said. “This is a time where you can fall behind other programs if you are not getting the work done in the summer.

“We don’t look at it as a summertime workout. It is just a continuation of our offseason, which started back in January and goes right into July 31, when you put helmets on. There is a lot of excitement out here.”

Nederland has a new offensive coordinator after Bryan Spell took over the Career and Technical Education program at the high school. Jason Smith takes over the role for the Bulldogs.

“There are some new concepts and it is different language,” Barrow said of the new offense. “It is Coach

Chris Moore/The News Nederland running back Hubert Thomas, No. 13, breaks a tackle for the Bulldogs.

Smith’s to do his thing with. I think he has related well to the kids. Our quarterbacks are really excited about it.”

Quarterback Ayden Sunday is leading the team’s offense, which found a good deal of success on the ground last year thanks to Sunday’s mobility and the emergence of, then, sophomore running back Hubert Thomas, who will carry the load again this year.

“We have receivers who can make plays and an o-line that can block,” Sunday said.

“It makes my job a whole lot easier. We have some good leaders on the team. Having Hubert has helped a ton. Defenses have to defend the run, and he is always going to be a threat, whether it is running or catching the ball downfield.”

The backend of the Nederland defense should look familiar to fans with Ellis Walker, Cole Guidroz, Isiah Hernandez and James Ladner returning.

“They have played a lot of football and still have two

more years,” Barrow said.

Even in the heat of a Southeast Texas summer, the Bulldogs have no interest in living in the shadow of nearby rival Port Neches-Groves, who made it to the 5A-II state title game in 2022.

“We are fighting for a district championship and we want to make the playoffs,” Sunday said.

“It makes us work a lot harder. We know when we are out here, other schools are also out here getting better. Just knowing there are better teams out there pushes us.”

Barrow said the team has not talked about PNG’s run since the season ended.

“It wasn’t us,” he said. “Because it wasn’t us, all we can do is work better to give ourselves the best chance.”

This year, Nederland will host big games against Fort Bend Marshall (Oct. 13) and PNG (Oct. 27).

— Written by Chris Moore

Chris Moore/The News

Seventh-year Bulldogs head coach Monte Barrow works his Nederland squad during the summer.

Cardinals playing long game with culture change

After a 1-10 season, the Lamar Cardinals were in desperate need of a change.

The school hired Pete Rossomando in January to take over as head coach and he began to immediately embark on his primary goal of changing the culture.

“Every day is a learning experience for us just because we haven’t been around each other for all that long,” Rossomando said. “Every day they are learning, and we are teaching. We want them to understand the standard and that they have to live up to it. They are learning that we aren’t going to accept certain things. We want a positive environment and guys focused on the process and not the outcome.”

Rossomando said athletes can trick themselves into thinking a new

coach can automatically create new outcomes.

“That is not how it works,” he said. “You have to work to flip the culture and attitude. It is really hard to flip the script from a 1-10 team to a winning program.”

The coach said he has already seen leaders emerge on both sides of the ball who can help set the tone for the program as it looks to find its identity.

“We have a transfer from Charlotte named Knox Boyd (offensive lineman),” the coach said. “He played for me. He is a Dallas kid, who has been to championships. He knows how to be tough.”

Rossomando also pointed out Jacob Dicharry, Sevonne Rhea and Kyndon Fuselier.

“Rhea is a tremendous human being,” the coach said.

Chris Moore/The News

Pete Rossomando instructs the Cardinals during his first summer leading Lamar.

“He is a great worker and a guy you can look at every day as a model of consistency.”

Fuselier, who is a sophomore receiver and a Nederland graduate, said last year was tough.

“I like where the program is heading,” Fuselier said. “We are not where we want to be right now. We are improving every day and working on the little details. It is not going to happen over night. We want to turn it around.”

On the defensive side, Jaymond Jackson, Foday Jalloh and Raymond Stevens are leading the defense.

“Jackson has been a rock for us,” Rossomando said.

While the team has a lot of work to do to become a Southland contender, the team was a few bounces away from a decent season in 2022. Last year, the Cardinals lost half of their games by one score.

The team is going to run a multiple-look offense under Rossomando and a 3-4 defense. Rossomando said the team can’t get too caught up in outcomes and must trust the work they put in.

“If we can prove to everyone we

can work to a specific standard, that will help,” he said. “These guys might not believe they can win a game right now. If they win a game, they might think they have made it. When you win a game, the next thing you have to think of is how to get better and keep winning. Those are the dangers of taking over a program that has struggled.”

Rossomando has had some success turning around programs. He took over Central Connecticut State in 2014 and after three tough seasons, his team went undefeated in conference in 2017 and appeared in the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history.

He has also worked with the late Tony Sparano at the University of New Haven.

As of now, the only game circled on Rossomando’s schedule is the first one against No. 8-ranked Idaho Aug. 31 at Provost Umphrey Stadium.

The Cardinals open up Southland play against Houston Christian Sept. 30.

— Written by Chris Moore

Chris Moore/The News

First year Lamar University head coach Pete Rossomando is taking over the Cardinals following successful stints as an assistant coach and head coach at various stops.

PN-G INDIANS

Aug. 25: at Memorial

Sept. 1: Beaumont United

Sept. 8: West Orange-Stark

Sept. 15: Open

Sept. 22: Fort Bend Marshall*

Sept. 29: at Texas City*

Oct. 7: at Fort Bend Willowridge*

Oct. 13: at Dayton*

Oct. 20: Santa Fe*

Oct. 27: at Nederland*

Nov. 3: Galena Park*

SCHEDULES

MEMORIAL TITANS

Aug. 25: Port Neches-Groves

Sept. 1: at Nederland

Sept. 8: at Porter

Sept. 15: at Porter*

Sept. 22: Sterling*

Sept. 29: at Crosby*

Oct. 6: at La Porte*

Oct. 13: at Goose Creek Memorial*

Oct. 20: at Baytown Lee*

Oct. 27: at Barbers Hill*

Nov. 3: Kingwood Park*

NEDERLAND BULLDOGS

Aug. 25: West Orange-Stark

Sept. 1: Memorial

Sept. 8: at Silsbee

Sept. 15: Open

Sept. 22: Fort Bend Willowridge*

Sept. 29: at Dayton*

Oct. 6: Santa Fe*

Oct. 13: Fort Bend Marshall*

Oct. 20: at Galena Park*

Oct. 27: Port Neches-Groves*

Nov. 3: at Texas City*

SABINE PASS SHARKS

Aug. 25: at FCHS (Spring)

Sept. 1: Frost (Neutral)

Sept. 8: OPEN

Sept. 15: Chef

Sept. 22: at KIPP GC (Houston)

Sept. 29: Open

Oct. 6: at Hull Daisetta*

Oct. 13: at Evadale*

Oct. 20: Lovelady*

Oct. 27: at Deweyville*

Nov. 3: Colmesneil*

LAMAR CARDINALS

Aug. 31: Idaho

Sept. 9: at ULM

Sept. 16: at South Dakota

Sept. 23: Lincoln (Calif.)

Sept. 30: at Houston Christian*

Oct. 7: Northwestern State*

Oct. 14: at Southeastern La.*

Oct. 21: OPEN

Oct. 28: Incarnate Word*

Nov. 4: Texas A&M-Comm*

Nov. 11: at Nicholls State*

Nov. 18: McNeese State*

LC-M BEARS

Aug. 25: at Hardin-Jefferson

Sept. 1: at WOS

Sept. 8: Bridge City

Sept. 14: Houston Kinkaid

Sept. 22: Open

Sept. 29: Spring Legacy

Oct. 6: Vidor*

Oct. 13: Livingston*

Oct. 20: at Splendora*

Oct. 27: Lumberton*

Nov. 3: at Hargrave*

SCHEDULES

VIDOR PIRATES

Aug. 25: at Silsbee

Sept. 1: at Santa Fe

Sept. 8: Brazosport

Sept. 14: at Lake Charles St. Louis

Sept. 22: Trinity Christian

Sept. 29: Open

Oct. 6: at LCM*

Oct. 13: Lumberton*

Oct. 20: at Livingston*

Oct. 27: Hargrave*

Nov. 3: at Splendora*

BRIDGE CITY CARDINALS

Aug. 25: Orangefield

Sept. 1: at Buna

Sept. 8: at LCM

Sept. 15: Lumberton

Sept. 22: Hamshire-Fannett*

Sept. 29: Open

Oct. 6: at Jasper*

Oct. 13: WOS*

Oct. 20: at Hardin-Jefferson*

Oct. 27: Silsbee*

Nov. 3: at Liberty*

WO-S MUSTANGS

Aug. 25: at Nederland

Sept. 1: LCM

Sept. 8: at PNG

Sept. 15: Newton

Sept. 22: Silsbee*

Sept. 29: at Liberty*

Oct. 6: Hamshire-Fannett*

Oct. 13: at Bridge City*

Oct. 20: Jasper*

Oct. 27: Open

Nov. 3: at Hardin-Jefferson*

ORANGEFIELD BOBCATS

Aug. 25: at Bridge City

Sept. 1: Spring Legacy

Sept. 8: at Shepherd

Sept. 15: Woodville

Sept. 22: at Buna*

Sept. 29: Anahuac*

Oct. 6: at Tarkington*

Oct. 13: Hardin*

Oct. 20: Open

Oct. 27: at Kirbyville*

Nov. 2: East Chambers*

Nederland quarterback zoned in for season

Nederland’s Ayden Sunday entered last season with a lot on his plate.

He started at safety on defense and was locked in a battle for the quarterback position. Due to his athleticism, the coaching staff started the season with Sunday as a backup running back and used him all over the field before he eventually earned the starting quarterback role to start district play.

This summer, Sunday entered the offseason program as the definitive starting quarterback for the Bulldogs heading into the fall.

“He has come a long way to this point,” Head Coach Monte Barrow said. “I think he will just continue to get better.”

Barrow said Sunday’s ability to run with the ball poses an immediate threat to defenses.

“When you go back and watch games, you can pick out about three or four plays where the quarterback makes something happen, whether he scrambled and ran, scrambled and extended a play to find someone open. It used to only be a big thing in high school

and college, but now you see it all over the pros.”

That added strain on the defense can also open up lanes for running back Hubert Thomas, who is coming off a breakout year as a sophomore.

“Ayden does a great job of reading the defense and seeing how to get us in the right play,” Barrow said. “His intelligence and physical abilities at the position are a good combination.”

Sunday doesn’t have much free time this summer between preparing for the upcoming season and pressure washing houses for some extra money.

“It has been going good so far,” he said. “My dad helped me get everything set up.”

Sunday said his favorite subject is science and added he wants to be a chemical engineer. But first, building the chemistry with his teammates is one of his top priorities.

“With the season we went through last year, everyone is playing with a chip on their shoulders,” he said. “We have a lot of returners, so that should help.”

— Written by Chris Moore

Proud Supporter of All Nederland Sports and Activities!

Chris Moore/The News

Nederland’s Ayden Sunday, No. 12, runs for a touchdown in second quarter action during a home game Nov. 4, 2022.

Titans find a “Tank” with Tai’yion King’s effort

Port Arthur Memorial football boasts an extremely talented defense.

As the Titans look to build upon their recent success, sophomore linebacker Tai’yion “Tank” King is emerging as one of Southeast Texas’ rising stars.

King earned the Titans starting linebacker job as a freshman in 2022. Despite being the youngest player on the field, he tallied nearly 60 tackles and three sacks on the playoff team. Now, he’s ready to take things up a notch.

“I’ve been in the weight room getting stronger, faster and going to private sessions with a linebacker coach,” King said. “No. 1 goal is to be better than I was last year. All my other goals are anything to help the defense and help my team win.”

The moniker Tank is a fitting one — King stands 6-feet-2 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s already big and

still has room to grow.

He originally played defensive end through much of his football career. Upon reaching high school, he hit a growth spurt and slimmed up a bit.

His coaches took notice and suggested a switch to linebacker.

While the positional change took some adjustment, King adapted. He says the rest is history.

“The hardest thing was really learning about this position,” King said. “I struggled at first, especially being the youngest kid on the field. Last year, I basically played varsity at 14 years old. But it was a really good experience for me.”

King models his game after Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys — one of the NFL’s most talented and versatile linebackers.

With a year of varsity experience under his belt, King is rapidly growing into a similar mold. He’s becoming a dynamic playmaker who can stop the run, drop back

into coverage or line up as an edge rusher to pressure the passer.

King is a competitor, coaches say, showing up early for workouts and staying late.

He credits his competitive spirit to his family, as he comes from a lineage of athletes. His father played collegiate football and his mother was a track and field runner. Now, Tank appears to be on his way to becoming the next star athlete in the family. He won’t graduate high school until 2026, but many Division I football programs are already taking notice of his talent.

He has several offers from universities such as Missouri, SMU, Baylor and Texas A&M.

“We’re really excited to be on this whole roller coaster,” King said. “I never knew I’d be in this position to get all these offers. It is really a blessing.”

— Written by Keagan Smith

Chris Moore/The News Tai’yion King, a linebacker for the Memorial Titans, tallied nearly 60 tackles and three sacks in 2022.

Shea Adams steps into role of PNG quarterback

Shea Adams burst onto the scene for Port Neches-Groves football last season.

He was a Swiss army knife for the Indians, taking snaps at wide receiver, tight end and wildcat quarterback en route to a 31-touchdown campaign.

Now entering his senior year, Adams is set to show off a different side of his skillset.

He’s earned the starting nod and takes over the quarterback job on a full-time basis.

“Growing up, I was always the quarterback,” he said. “Even last year when I was a receiver, I practiced with the quarterbacks every single day. I’m ready for this.”

Adams frequently showcased his athleticism in 2022 and is a talented runner with the ball in his hands.

While he hasn’t thrown much at the varsity level, he’s focused on improving his arm to truly become a two-way threat.

Half the battle of playing quarterback is the mental aspect. Adams said studying his reads and progressions will accelerate his growth as a passer.

He also has the benefit of seeing things from a receiver’s point of view.

“Being a quarterback, I think you need to know everybody’s position and what they do,” he said. “I think having played all over the field definitely gives me a little bit of a better perspective for it, and I get how those guys feel.”

PNG head coach Jeff Joseph described his quarterback as a gifted athlete who is intelligent and hard-working.

Adams has earned the full trust of the coaching staff — and he has just as much praise for them.

“This new coaching staff coming in was definitely the best thing that could have happened for me,” Adams said. “They’ve always believed in me; they’ve always worked me and kept me going. I could not have asked for

a better coaching staff.”

Adams’ goals for his senior season are to build up team chemistry and make another run at the playoffs.

While he’s always tried to lead by example, stepping up as a vocal leader in the locker room and the huddle is another important objective.

Of course, the quarterback is typically the face of most football teams.

Port Neches-Groves is an especially passionate fanbase, and Adams looks forward to repping the purpleand-white once again.

“I absolutely love our community,” he said. “We’ve got the best fans out of anyone in Texas, and I’m honored to be the face of the team. When I was younger, I remember watching Roschon (Johnson) and all those guys, and I hope I can be a good role model to the younger kids like that.”

As things currently stand, Adams has received six scholarship offers from Division I football programs.

Lamar, Incarnate Word and Dartmouth are among those who have reached out, along with service schools Army, Navy and Air Force.

— Written by Keagan Smith

Mark Pachuca/The News

The Indians accept their second place trophy following a tremendous 2022 run.

Mark Pachuca/The News Shea Adams looks for running room.

Kyndon Fuselier ready for his college impact

Coming off a stellar football career at Nederland High School, do-it-all player

Kyndon Fuselier was certain to have multiple offers from universities to play at the next level.

As the final signing day approached, only one college, McNeese State, offered the receiver a scholarship.

Fuselier was close to accepting before the head coach took a job with LSU, forcing the Mustangs to hire a new coach, who had his own

thoughts about the recruiting class and pulled Fuselier’s offer.

The former Bulldogs standout, who played a major role in helping Nederland earn a district title and an appearance in the third round of the 2020 playoffs, ended up walking on at Lamar University.

The situation was not ideal. At the time, the Cardinals ran a run-heavy offense, which made it hard for a young receiver to show he is deserving of a scholarship.

But Fuselier made the most of his time on the field. During limited

action, he hauled in eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. He also averaged a monstrous 20-yards-percatch.

His performance was enough to get some good news during the exit meeting after the season.

“The coach told me that he liked what I was doing and offered me a scholarship,” Fuselier said. “It felt amazing. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders.”

While he has found success at the college level, Fuselier notices a difference in the pace of the game at

the next level. He even had a welcome-to-the-next-level moment.

“We were playing (Incarnate Word),” Fuselier remembers. “One of our returners got hurt. They put me back there to return. I caught it at about the 5-yard line. I didn’t see someone coming at me and I got popped and hurt my knee.”

Pete Rossomando took over the head coach position in January and said Fuselier checks all the boxes.

“He is an incredible football player and loves football,” Rossomando said. “There are guys that like

Courtesy of Lamar Athletics

Kyndon Fuselier hauled in eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown in 2022, and coaches say he is primed for more this season.

football. There are guys who do it as a means to an end. Then, there are guys who love it and you can see it on their face when they practice. (Fuselier) is that guy. He competes and gives great attention to detail.”

One of the reasons Fuselier didn’t get many offers coming out of high school was a “sub-par” 40-yard dash time. Recruiters and scouts often get players to run that distance to try and determine the true speed of a player.

Rossomando said coaches need to look no further than the game tape to see Fuselier’s true game speed.

“He is not fast on a stopwatch, but when you put him on a football field, he is faster than everybody,” the

coach said. “They say ‘When you are thinkin’, you are stinkin’. He doesn’t think because he understands, so he plays really, really fast. On play 20 and play 30 of the game, when you are wearing down, he is just getting started.”

Fuselier said this season he is focused on improving in every aspect of the game.

“I want us to win the Southland Conference and get a ring,” he said.

“I want to be First Team All Conference and get 1,000 yards.”

Lamar opens the season against Idaho on Aug. 31 at Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont.

— Written by Chris Moore

At BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals, LLC, we are committed to working safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally sound manner. Together, we create the right chemistry!

Courtesy of Lamar Athletics Kyndon Fuselier concentrates on getting a foot inbounds while making a catch during the 2022 season for Lamar University.

MID COUNTY MADNESS

If the 99th edition of Mid County Madness in 2022 was any indication, then this year’s centennial celebration Oct. 27 in Nederland promises to be a sporting slugfest. Last year’s game was delayed 90 minutes due to lightning and heavy storms. Once the game did start, it was a typical battle between the Indians and Bulldogs. The records never seem to matter when these two teams play, and the rainy conditions in Port Neches only added to the drama.

In the end, the Indians did what was needed to be done in capturing the Bum Phillips Bowl victory by a tight 26-24 margin — the dramatic ending taking place after 11 p.m.

Following his first Mid County Madness experience, PNG coach Jeff Joseph said, “We could hear the crowd, we could hear the band. They were loud and enthusiastic. The (fans) that were left were the ones with the most enthusiasm and cheering the loudest. It was fun, man. It was hectic. It was really madness with the weather, the rain and the crowd. It was pretty crazy.”

Chris Moore/The News

Running back Hubert Thomas, No. 13, looks for daylight against PNG in 2022.

Chris Moore/The News Brock Hebert, No. 32, bulldozes his way into the end zone for an Indians touchdown.

Check out strengths of Bears defense, new running back approach, what new QB brings

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears have looked like a different football program during head coach Eric Peevey’s short tenure.

The Bears are coming off back-toback winning seasons for just the third time in school history.

With the 2023 campaign fast approaching, the third-year coach sees an opportunity to establish a standard of excellence and take the program to the next level.

“It’s really about how you build through the season,” Peevey said. “The best playoff teams improve every week. Instead of just getting through practice, they’re getting better at practice. That’s the key. So, what we are really going to press this year is making sure the kids understand that we’re gonna push them to get better each week.”

The 2023 Bears have a slightly younger team than usual, but they’re still returning plenty of experience. Ten returning juniors started on last year’s varsity squad, and they’ll be joined by a handful of seniors.

Stifling defensive play has been a defining part of the Bears’ identity. That isn’t expected to change, despite major losses in stars Amier Washington and Da’Marion Morris.

There’s plenty of talent remaining in the green-and-gold.

The entire linebacker corps is returning, with senior standout Luke McDow calling the shots from the middle.

Eddie Winters could be a name to watch on the defensive line. Peevey said he has been impressed with Winters’ explosiveness and strength and expects him to be a major contributor.

Cornerback Daunte Greer and safety Jackson Smith are returning and primed for big seasons.

They could have one more X-factor in the secondary, as well.

“Braylon Lewis is a kid that you’re gonna see all over the field,” Peevey said. “He is a tremendous free safety force and should have a great year. He’s a sophomore, though, so there may be times he has to learn and get those kinks out early.”

As for the LCM offense, fans likely notice some new wrinkles added to the gameplan. For starters, Peevey anticipates a new approach to the rushing attack. The Bears are

shifting to a three-man backfield committee rather than utilizing one workhorse.

Each running back has a unique style, so they’ll be deployed based on whether the situation calls for power, speed or something else.

This year also marks the return of the rushing quarterback. Senior Dylan Payne had a great offseason and won the starting job following an open competition.

He brings a rare blend of size, rushing ability and arm talent to the table.

“With Dylan being a senior, this was his opportunity to earn the job,” Peevey said.

“What separated him was his ability. We know what we’ll get with him running the ball, but his ability to throw the ball and his accuracy have gotten a lot better. We feel very comfortable with him going to the quarterback position.”

Given the strengths of the roster, it’s likely the Bears spread the ball around more with a diversified offense. Peevey mentioned the possibility of using multiple tight ends, as well as heavy packages and multiple-back sets.

LC-M’s head coach was complimentary of his players’ work ethic throughout the offseason. He said they’ve had a great turnout, and the team has been focused on building discipline and adding weight.

Developing leadership and accountability have also been focal points.

“Leadership comes from the people that are setting the example, more than the people that are talking,” Peevey said. “If we can have a team full of leaders with young men that are owning their responsibility, then it all kind of works its way out.”

LCM’s district is among the most competitive in Texas’ 4A-I class.

Lumberton is returning most of a deep playoff team, while Vidor and Huffman are always in the mix. The Bears will certainly be back with some extra motivation, especially after last year’s disappointing first-round playoff exit.

“What we’ve got to do is worry about our team and our focus,” Peevey said. “It doesn’t matter what jerseys the other teams wear or what color helmets they have. We still have to treat this play by play. We’ll do what we’ve got to do to get our job done.”

— Written by Keagan

Smith

Mark Pachuca/The News

LCM’s Luke McDow, No. 5, and Jarvis Riley, No. 19, make a stop on a Splendora ball carrier back in 2022.

Keagan Smith/The News Eric Peevey is leading the Bears football program this season, his third as Little Cypress-Mauriceville head coach, with a special focus on getting better at practice each week.

Dwight Davis embraces Lamar culture change

Defensive back Dwight Davis knows what it is like to be on a football team undergoing a turnaround.

Davis joined Little Cypress-Mauriceville at the start of the 2021 season. The team went 1-7 the previous year and had just hired Eric Peevey as the new coach to right the ship.

“You have to learn to buy into the process,” Davis said. “I was at Orangefield the year before. We were an average team and lost in the first round of the playoffs. I heard about this new opportunity to play for Coach Peevey. The year before, they lost seven games. I was taking a gamble but I knew I would have opportunities. Our team bought in

and that is what got us how far we went.”

The 2021 LCM squad made it to the fourth round of the playoffs, the furthest the program has ever gone.

Now, as a redshirt freshman on the Lamar Cardinals, Davis believes a coaching change could be the catalyst for a new era for Lamar football.

“My confidence has grown a lot since last fall,” Davis said.

“We got a new coaching staff in the building, and they are doing a really good job of explaining everything to us in depth. It has been great. Between the start of Spring, we have been out there at 6 a.m. doing bag drills. We have broken down and started from the bottom. We have improved our toughness, discipline

and accountability. It is a completely different culture from last season.”

Part of that culture change starts with players like Davis, according to head coach Pete Rossomando.

“Dwight is the son of a coach,” Rossomando said.

“Those guys just understand the game. They understand what it takes. He knows where he is athletically. He knows he is not going to be a top guy. He does everything with grit, hard work and dedication. We want him to get on special teams and give us a spark. He brings a great work ethic. He brings a blue-collar mentality. He is also an unbelievable student in the classroom.”

Davis said that spirit comes from

a belief that he can do anything.

“I never tell myself I can’t do something,” he said. “I never say those words out loud or in my head. That has helped me develop myself through this past year. I am never going to back down from a challenge.

Davis said last season was tough as Lamar finished with a 1-10 record.

“We had four or five games come down to one or a couple of scores,” he said. “That is hard to watch. We have a new thing this year, where we say ‘Fourth quarter, our quarter.’ We are really hard on ourselves about that to not let that happen again.”

— Written by Chris Moore

Courtesy of Lamar Athletics

Former Little Cypress-Mauriceville standout Dwight Davis is a defensive back with Lamar University.

Courtesy of Lamar Athletics

Dwight Davis said new coach Pete Rossomando is helping change the culture at Lamar.

Courtesy of Lamar Athletics

According to coach Pete Rossomando, Dwight Davis does everything with grit and hard work.