PORT NECHES — Brandon Faircloth is not worried about the fact Dylan McGough has only one reception in 2016.

The best part of McGough is it never even came up when talking about his time with the Indians.

McGough, a two-year starter, caught his one pass in non-district action against Goose Creek Memorial and it was a 5-yard touchdown in a 42-7 victory.

Playing the game of football for the Port Neches-Groves Indians means a lot more to McGough than any numbers he might or might not put up on the field.

“It is wild knowing it is my senior year,” McGough said. “I wanted my whole life to play on this field in front of these fans. It is a thing most Indians dream about. My first year on varsity went by so fast and now I only have seven (regular season) games left and four home games. It is so surreal that it will not be long and it will be all over with.”

McGough admitted he was nervous the first time he played for the Indians and he said that feeling has never went away.

“If you don’t get nervous then you should just hang it up,” McGough added. “Running out on our field makes it easy each day to come out to practice and to work hard. It is a blessing to play in front of 10,000 fans each week. Every high school kid should be able to experience that I think. I am just blessed to be in this position.”

McGough is one of many PNG players whose family bleeds purple and white. It is those types of players that make The Reservation so special in the mind of Faircloth.

“I have seen that part of him seen that about him since the seventh grade when I met him,” Faircloth said. “He is one of the best teammates that we have ever had around here. Dylan will literally do anything to help the team win. He only has one catch for one touchdown and we do need to get him more involved.
“Dylan is not concerned with that one bit because all he cares about is winning. The ball is going to find him. He is a great player and overall receiver. He is highly intelligent.”

McGough is so intelligent that he is in the top 10-percent of the senior class at PNG.

He is smart enough to realize it is important to have the type of backing he has at home and within the community.

“It is awesome,” McGough said. “It is such a tradition-rich program. To have that many people committed to you, a lot of people this is their life. It is awesome to have that type of fan base here.

McGough said he is both surprised and not surprised with how good the Indians have looked in 2016.

“We are 3-0 but we can’t be satisfied with that,” McGough added. “We have to keep working hard and shoot to win every game. I am very impressed with where we are.
“We lost a group of DI athletes last year and we have a young quarterback so people doubted us. In the summer we worked hard and also in the offseason. I really think we are going to shock some people by the end of the district race.”
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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe