PORT NECHES – Receivers have been flourishing lately at Port Neches-Groves. This season, the Indians have found another Rose among the thorns, as junior receiver Jeremiah Rose is establishing himself as the next name in a growing list of talented pass catchers under PN-G head coach Brandon Faircloth.

Rose is District 20-4A’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He has scored a TD in three of PN-G’s five games this season, scoring his other against Silsbee on a reverse.

That’s not bad for a guy who came into the season fresh off the JV team.

“He always has been (dependable),” PN-G head coach Brandon Faircloth said. “He’s one of the ones who benefitted from being on the JV last year. He was our go-to guy there last year. He’s steadily improved. He’s very athletic, obviously, and has great hands. He’s just a steady guy. He had a great freshman year, a great sophomore year and is now playing well on varsity.”

Against LC-M last week, Rose etched his own name in the record books at PN-G with 11 catches. That puts him fourth all-time on the single-game catches list. Of the players in the top five, six of the eight have played under Faircloth, including record-holder Amir Jalali, who had 14 catches in 2010.

For Rose, that big game is just business as usual.

“When you line up out there, especially when the ball is coming to you, you try to do your best on every play,” Rose said. “I’m happy with 11. That’s good, but if they want to give me more, that’s good too.”

Faircloth said Rose wants the ball on every play and is constantly working so he can get there. In the past three games, he’s caught 23 passes for 212 yards and averaged over seven catches per game.

“He wants the football,” Faircloth said. “He’s not satisfied with 28 catches right now. He’s not satisfied with 11 in a game. He’s going to continue to work hard and get better.”

Rose also has good size for his position, giving the PN-G quarterbacks a big target to find in different situations.

“He’s 6-foot,” Faircloth said. “He’s not a little guy. That helps on fades and on jump balls. He can go up and get them. He’s got nice size. We’re excited about him running around and catching balls for the next couple of years.”

His best attribute, though, may be his ability to turn up his level of play for games.

“He is a gamer,” Faircloth said. “I think his strength is that when the lights go on, he can up his level of play. Not everyone can do that. The more kids you have that can do that, the better team you have. The first time we went to Silsbee this year, that touchdown he scored on the reverse was great. He really upped his level of play there. When hIS lights come on, he can really focus up and do whatever he needs to win.”

That’s evident when Rose talks about his favorite play to run during games. He wants the ball in tough situations, like on third down.

“It’s called Odd 2 Bear,” Rose said. “It’s basically a 10-yard out, which is usually the play we call on third-and-long. It’s almost completed every time with A.J. It’s probably our best route that we can do.”

Rose hasn’t shown any signs of being intimidated by the increase in level of play this season. He came into the spring working as one of the starterS in the slot and hasn’t blinked as he’s become the team’s leading receiver.

“I just wanted to come in and work hard every day and get better every week,” Rose said. “It helped a lot, starting in my eighth grade year, playing in this system. I’ve gotten better every week, gotten more catches each week. I hope to get more in this upcoming game. I work hard in practice and try to do my best.”

INDIAN INKLINGS: The son of Schwanna and Reginald Rose, Jeremiah is one of three players with a rushing TD for PN-G this season. He has five carries for 50 yards and joins Diego Medina and A.J. Smith as the only Indians to score on a run this season. … Defensive lineman Josh Riley finally made an impact for the Indians this season, after missing time with an injury. Riley had two tackles, as he’s gradually worked back into the line rotation, his first two tackles of the season. … Bradley Broussard led the Indians in tackling against LC-M with 12, while both Robert Dawson and Dalton Peveto had 11. Dawson was inserted into the game for Dillard Youngblood, who left with an ankle injury. … Four different PN-G runners now have over 100 yards on the season, but the team has yet to produce a 100-yard rusher in a single game. Spencer Wommack leads the team with 140 yards, while  A.J. Smith is second at 122. Both Tim Clopton (108) and Diego Medina (104) also have 100 yards. Clopton leads the team in yards from scrimmage with 319, just ahead of Rose’s 318.

Five Questions with Jeremiah Rose

What is your dream job? To play in the NFL

What is your favorite movie? Transformers

What is your favorite NFL team? Pittsburgh Steelers

What is your favorite college? University of Texas

What is your favorite color? Red