The bad news for the Memorial Titans is that they lost to the Channelview Falcons, the worst team in District 21-5A by far. The Falcons entered Friday night’s contest with an 0-8 record but improved to 1-8 with a 36-30 victory over Memorial, which appeared to be turning around its program and even had a strong chance at a share of the league championship.

The sad news for the Titans is that they allowed Channelview to take a 34-3 lead midway through the second quarter, in what was obviously was the most pathetic quarter-and-a-half anybody has seen in Port Arthur this season.

In truth, there is not enough room in the sports section to explain just how aweful Memorial looked in the first half. Despite two give-a-ways and allowing 388 yards in the opening 24 minutes to the worst offensive team in the league, Memorial nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages.

But the Titans came up short as they were stopped on fourth-and-four at Channelviews 42-yard line with 1:18 left in the game.

The defense had made its fourth consecutive stand in the half to give the offense 2:14 to go 65 yards for the winning score. Having plenty of success in the no huddle and owning all the momentum, it seemed as if Port Arthur was poised for the win.

Ronzel King, who had 81 yards rushing with two scores, took a first-down-run 17 yards into Falcons territory. The Titans were out of timeouts but Corwin Keal picked up four yards on a scramble and got out of bounds to stop the clock. That set up Port Arthur with second-and-six at Channelviews 44 with 1:40 left on the clock. Keal missed receiver Chris Reed on second down. Then Memorial head coach Kenny Harrison tried to catch the Falcons off guard with a second draw play to King, who picked up just two yards.

The Titans used a quick shotgun option play to the right on fourth down. Keal pitched to King. It looked like he had enough open real estate to make the needed four yards, but Channelview closed quickly to stop King two yards short of a first down.

Ball game.

The Falcons took over with 1:18 to play. Quarterback Dominique Jefferson went to his knee three times to run out the clock and drop the Titans to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.

The Titans started their comeback march by cutting the game to 34-10 just before halftime after Daleon Sinette ran to paydirt from 8-yards out. Memorial’s top tailback Ronzell King, 81 yards on 10 carries, also popped an 8-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 36-23 with 9:38 left to play.

Port Arthur’s revived defense forced their second turnover-on-downs of the half on the Falcons ensuing drive. Channelview actually tried for a fake punt on its own 27-yard line but failed. Keal immediately took advantage of that poor decision by tossing a 27-yard beauty to Shaq White, who made the reception at the 3 and quickly juked two defenders to put the score at 36-30.

White had 48 yards rushing on the night, including one 44-yard end-around burner that provided a second-quarter spark for his Titans. That spark proved to be a dud, however, as Fisher Romar coughed up the pigskin on Channelview’s 3-yard line. Memorial had five fumbles in the contest and lost two, both in the first half.

But Romar’s was the more painful of the two, as a touchdown at that juncture could have made the difference in the end.

To go along with his 48 yards rushing, White also caught three passes for 37 yards. But Keal’s favorite target was Nate Davis, who had five receptions for 114 yards. He caught a 22-yard pitch from Keal on a fourth-and-2 play that ended in the back of the endzone and brought the game to 34-16.

But just like most of the night went for Memorial, the Falcons blocked the extra point attempt, recovered the loose ball and took it the distance for a gracious two points, advancing their lead to 36-16.