PORT NECHES — Jerin Spikes will remember last Friday for years to come. But none of it helps him any this week.

Waking up on the morning of the Indians’ season opener, the Port Neches-Groves senior saw his picture with coach Matt Burnett and Harrison Tatum on the cover of The Port Arthur News Football 2008 preview section.

That sort of favorable news media attention seldom happens to a young high school athlete at all. An even more unusual moment occurred early in the second quarter of PN-G’s 19-14 victory at Barbers Hill.

We rewind to last Friday night.. The score is tied 7-7 but Barbers Hill is about to make it 14-7. The Eagles have marched from their 28 to PN-G’s red zone. They have first-and-goal on the 10.

Quarterback Tony Carmona fakes a handoff to running back Kade Bradford on what looks to be a running play to the left side. Defensive end Spikes is not fooled at all. He’s ready for Carmona on a sprint out to the opposite side.

Carmona has a blocker protecting him and he fires a bullet right smack into Spikes’ hands. As every prudent defensive end is taught to do, if you get your hands up in the air high when you rush the passer, something good can happen. And it did for Spikes in his first start as a two-way player.

The Barbers Hill quarterback slinged his pass so quickly that the tight copy of the game video had trouble keeping up with ensuing moments. Spikes grabbed the interception at the Indians’ 14 and never ever realized that he returned the interception for five yards to the 19. It all happened too quickly.

Defensive ends coach Terry Cobb called it “the most unbelieveable interception” he had ever watched.

“It almost hit him between the eyes,” Cobb said. “I asked Jerin, ‘Did you see that ball?’ and he said, ‘No sir’.’’

Oh well, it’s always better to be lucky and good at the same time. Jerin was good to be in the right spot and have his hands up. He was lucky that the ball found his hands.

Spikes did what Super Team players should. He studied plenty of video. Jerin noticed Barbers Hill’s offensive guard pulled out as Carmona’s lead blocker. He determined Carmona planned a sprintout play when the guard pulled.

“We saw the pulling guard and studied that on video,” Spikes said. “I saw (last year’s defensive end Zeke) Schexnider always batted down balls but this one stuck to my gloves.... Their guard was at my knees while I was trying to jump (to defend the pass). It was crazy.

“I just saw him (Carmona) raring back. I just tried to get my hands in his face and it was there.”

Spikes will have a different sort of challenge Saturday night in Crosby when speedy running back Chance Casey will test PN-G’s young defense at 7 p.m. Casey ripped through the Indians for 149 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries last year. The Cougars departed The Reservation with a 7-0 win and Spikes hoped the Indians could turn the tables this time.

Jerin visited the famliy’s deer lease near Colmesneil when he evacuated over Labor Day weekend, as Hurricane Gustav threatened to strike Southeast Texas. He can get other opportunities to work on a deer lease, throw a baseball or play in a big football game. But the opportunity to be on the cover of Football 2008 may be a one of a kind.