PORT NECHES -- Klete LeBlanc's world as a Port Neches-Groves football player completely changed from his very first moments around Brandon Faircloth.

  The Indians' newly hired head football coach addressed his players for the first time early in February. The impressions, the resolve, the words all sunk very deeply into the 18-year-old candidate for an offensive line position.

  The 6-1, 230-pound LeBlanc recalled those special moments on Wednesday afternoon.

  "He said to us, 'We're expecting great things here'," LeBlanc recalled. "He said, 'We're going to push you to your limits and if you give it your all, you will see the results.

  "That man made me and our teammates much improved. Our team is three times better from the way he's come in here and set forth his program. We've had a great work ethic. And we've done everything we could to be at our best right now."

  From the start of February through the end of May, PN-G's 2009 football candidates blossomed that much.

  This reporter gave his opinion to PN-G principal Marc Keith in the final moments of the spring game in late May.

  "Marc, I don't see any reason why this team is not capable of going 10-0," this Port Arthur News reporter said.

  Now the Indians are 9-0, eighth in the Class 4A state rankings for the third straight week and at least District 20-4A co-champions. Their center all season has been so flawless that Klete LeBlanc has made very few errant deliveries to his taller or shorter quarterback five yards deep in the shotgun.

  Whether it's 6-2 starter Brennan Doty or 5-10 backup Matt Desmond, LeBlanc's portion of the play almost always goes unnoticed. Yes, an occasional snap has misfired but very few. The average PN-G fan has to feel as if each Indians' play begins with the quarterback. That's how automatic Klete's work has been.

  "Overall I think I've done as good as I should have," LeBlanc said.

  LeBlanc has not tried to suggest he's been perfect. The Barbers Hill outing contained first-game jitters. The Nederland night was filled with hype. The Livingston trip contained plenty of rain, mud, and mushy footballs. Besides Faircloth, offensive line coach Joe Dale Cary and the Port Neches-Groves constituency has made a champion's contribution to this championship season, too.

  The PN-G constituency? Yes. Absolutely. PN-G's tax payers and fan base voted for a bond to approve numerous upgrades in the PNGISD. They included field turf and renovations for Indian Stadium. LeBlanc has loved to snap the ball in the shotgun on field turf. PN-G had not won any of three 3-0 home games on The Reservation in 2008. They produced a perfect 7-0 ledger there in 2009 and LeBlanc's snaps offered precious few imperfections.

  "The field turf has been great," the son of Kenward and Denise LeBlanc said. "It gives us a great practice facility. Especially when it rains, it drains really well. Snapping the ball can be tough when the grass is wet but the turf makes it a million times better."

  Faircloth's off-season was tough and rigorous. Klete has no problem realizing his personal sacrifice-reward ratio. It's sort of like that plus 21 turnover ratio on the Tribe's ledger through nine games.