Home curtain call: Titans try to close out perfect run at Memorial Stadium

Published 5:45 pm Thursday, October 27, 2016

The night when Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison coaches his son one last time in Memorial Stadium has quickly come.

“I’ve put a lot of thought into it,” he said. “The time has kind of just flown by. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve enjoyed every day, every minute. He’s by far my hero. I’ve enjoyed it, the good and the bad.”

He and cornerbacks coach Kary Vincent Sr. both have sons trying to leave Port Arthur’s battleground in style tonight. After a pair of losing seasons, quarterback Kadon Harrison and cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. are enjoying by far their best high school season with the Titans (7-0, 6-0 in District 22-5A) and are a game away from helping the team complete its first goal — finish undefeated at home.

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The district leaders have been tested, though. On Sept. 2 Houston Westside was driving for a potential tie in the third quarter, trailing 34-27, when two banks of lights went out, causing the game to be suspended.

The Titans easily handled Central 34-13 after the bye week and beat up an injury-plagued Nederland team two weeks later, 42-12. They drew a packed house on Oct. 14 when Port Neches-Groves’ comeback from 19 points down came up just short in a 33-28 Memorial win.

Plenty of memories made in Memorial Stadium this season.

Kenny Harrison is very proud of the Titans’ ability to avoid a letdown during a long road trip last week at Livingston, winning 54-0. The challenge this week is to do the same against last-place Baytown Lee (1-7, 0-6).

“I think the motivation for our kids is to be 5-0 at home, and it’s our seniors’ last home game,” Harrison said. His team will officially go 4-0 at home with a win because a winner was not declared in the Westside game.

The Titans can win at least a share of the 22-5A championship in their first year in the district in the process. Plus, they’ll get to face a Wing-T offense for the first of two consecutive weeks, with a visit to Vidor (7-2, 6-1) approaching.

No one on Memorial’s team is overlooking Lee, though.

“Our kids are even keel,” Harrison said. “Every game is very important, so they have to come out hard and play for 48 minutes all year long.”

Much of the attention Memorial has received has been placed on Vincent Jr.’s defensive excellence (two of his seven interceptions have been returned for touchdowns) and the breakout rushing season of junior Elijah Hines. Kadon Harrison, who has thrown for 1,389 yards and 17 touchdowns, has worked with a dependable senior corps of receivers including De’Andre Angelle, Adrian Williams and Rickey Thomas.

But Kenny Harrison was quick to note Thursday the leadership of seniors Kainen Collins (lineman), Odis Mack (linebacker) and Kobe Nixon (secondary) on defense.

“This group of kids, I’ve had an opportunity to watch them from middle school up,” the coach said. “I saw quite a few games over the years. They’re one of the better senior groups [at Memorial] as far as athletic ability. As far as team speed, they rank right up there with the best of them that we’ve had.”

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

22-5A FOOTBALL

BAYTOWN LEE (1-7) AT PA MEMORIAL (7-0)

• When: 7 tonight

• Where: Memorial Stadium

• Radio: KOLE-AM 1340

• 22-5A standings: Lee 0-6; Memorial 6-0

• Series record: Memorial leads 5-3; last meeting, Memorial won 45-14 in 2009

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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