PORT NECHES — Being a Port Neches-Groves Indians football player runs through Cole Robinson’s blood.
It has been since 1955 when his uncle Ronnie Robinson played on the Class 3A state championship team. PNG defeated Graland 20-14 in the state final and finished the season 11-2 with losses to Nederland and Port Arthur.
His father also played at PNG in the early 1990s so Cole Robinson has been around the purple and white since he can remember.
“I have been coming to the games every Friday night since I was a kid,” Robinson said.
Robinson is now a three-year player for coach Brandon Faircloth. He was a second-team member of the All-District 22-5A Football team as a junior.
“He has kickoff, punt and linebacker since he was a sophomore,” Faircloth said. “There are not too many jobs he has not done for us. He has a great, hard-nosed player. He is very strong and is a great weight room guy.”
Robinson knows he has to be strong because he is not built like a typical linebacker. Dave Campbell Texas High School Football magazine lists Robinson at 5-8 and weighing 205 pounds.
He has learned other ways to become one of the captains of the PNG defense.
“I have always been a smaller guy on defense,” Robinson said. “I try to make up for it with heart and effort. I try to go 100-percent. I also have to use my strength and knowledge to make up for it.”
So far so good for Robinson and the Indians defense. PNG’s defense has ranked first the last two seasons in total defense in District 22-5A.
The Indians are fourth right now after giving up 262 yards per game through two games. PNG allowed only seven points and 230 yards last week in a 42-7 victory over Goose Creek Memorial.
It has been much of the same for the Indians defense this year as compared to the last several. PNG’s offense gets the headlines while the defense flies under the radar.
“That is fine with us,” Robinson said about the defensive players. “PNG’s offense always gets the love and that is OK. We only care about winning the game and they can get all the glory they want. We just make sure to back up our offense.”
Robinson and his defensive teammates face Lumberton at 7 p.m. Friday at Raider Stadium to open District 22-5A play.
He knows the Indians have to stay focused if PNG is to battle for the district championship again this year.
“Lumberton is an aggressive, hard-hitting offense,” Robinson said. “They are going to try to go right at you. We are going to have to try and stop that.
“We have the heart this year. We have to keep our heads held high and we will be OK.”
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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe