Memorial’s season r could have gone a lot worse. But the 10-7 loss to the Central Jaguars on Friday night certainly could have gone a lot better.

The Titans could not do much on offense without starting quarterback Jareal Alexander, and Memorial’s defense did just enough to keep the game close.

But even with all Memorial’s first game woes, the Titans Corwin Keal and sophomore K’Sean Wesley hooked up for an 18- yard touchdown connection to tie the game at 7-7 with just under eight minutes to play in the fourth.

Central responded, however, with a 12-play, 5:31 drive that ended with Ernesto Alvarao’s game winning 35-yard field goal.

Memorial used the remaining 2:20 of the clock before launching a hail mary into the hands of Central’s Charles Thomas. Port Arthur got all the way to the Jags’ 28-yard line before stalling out and losing 15 yards to sacks and penalties.

Keal took the final snap from the 50-yard line. The hail mary never really stood a chance.

Memorial head coach Ronnie Thompson said all he was looking for in that final drive was a field goal but the Titans never made it to a comfortable yardage for the kicking team.

Thompson added that Central did a great job of putting pressure on his young quarterbacks.

“We got one coming off an injury and limited in what he can do and the others are inexperienced,” he said. “I thought both of the younger guys did a pretty good at times. There were definitely some missed opportunities. With more experience, they may have seen those opportunities.”

Port Arthur ended the night with 10 first downs and 153 total yards, compared to Central’s 14 first downs and 281 total yards. Not only did the Jags match Memorial’s 74 yards of passing, they also used five different backs in their option offense to chew up 207 rushing yards in 40 attempts.

Central did put the ball on the turf four times and lost three of those fumbles to the Titans.

The biggest came in with about 9:45 to play in the fourth quarter when senior end Radermon Scypion pounced on the Jags final fumble, giving the offense a first-down-and-10 at Central’s 28-yard line.

Memorial aquired its first, first down in the second half on that drive and needed just five plays before Keal hit Wesley on an 18-yard fade in back of the end zone.

It was Keal’s first pass of the game and Wesley’s third catch. Keal, who split time with Stedman Haynes and Alexander, ended the night 2-for-4 with 18 yards and the last-second interception to Thomas.

Wesley was the highlight of the offense. He finished with four receptions and 48 yards.