By I.C. Murrell

The News sports editor

Naturally, the 3-7 record Port Arthur Memorial posted on the football field last year might be the first thing that comes to mind when anyone talks about the 2014 season.

Brandon Artis can handle it.

“You’ve got to have a chip on your shoulder from the past, so I’ve got that in the back of my mind,” the starting nose guard for the Titans said.

He and defensive end Brandon Jackson are called to try and lead the Titans’ defensive unit back to great heights this season after missing the postseason for the first time since 2007. While Friday’s season opener at home against Beaumont Ozen isn’t a district game, it could be the start of a road to redemption for the Titans.

“We’re just trying to keep the tempo up, come out harder, come out stronger on the D-line, just really working as a unit,” Jackson said.

Memorial coach Kenny Harrison has always said that Artis and Jackson are the leaders of the Titans’ defense. During a season when key injuries plagued the Titans, Artis and Jackson were mainstays on the three-man front and played all 10 games last year.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Artis could have a size advantage going into each game, as he tries to better his 32-tackle season from last year. Jackson (6-2, 285) had 54 tackles, including 7.5 for losses and one sack.

Harrison likes what the line — which also includes junior Kainen Collins — brings to the field.

“We’ll be able to control the line of scrimmage and be able to get a pass rush with those guys,” Harrison said. “We’re still looking for those guys to be able to dominate the line of scrimmage week in and week out.”

Ozen seniors Josh Boyd and Calvin Tyler will give the Titan defense its first challenge of the season. Both ran for exactly 574 yards per game, but quarterback Boyd is a dual threat who completed 51.1 percent of his passes for 978 yards and seven touchdowns.

Memorial had its best defensive outing against Ozen a year ago, holding the Panthers to 68 yards in a 56-0 victory. In fact, Memorial has outscored Ozen 70-0 the past two years.

When asked whether the Titans can maintain that streak — and Memorial’s 9-0 record all-time against Ozen — Artis said, striking a small smile: “You’ll see. We’ll do pretty good.”

The Titans’ defensive plan sounds simple enough: “Really, just making sure we bring that physical presence throughout the field and make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do,” Jackson said.