Big-game Bulldogs: Nederland finds momentum from Bum Phillips Bowl win into playoffs

Published 6:32 pm Tuesday, November 14, 2017

NEDERLAND — Sure, Nederland has to put its victory in the Bum Phillips Bowl behind.

It’s just not easy for the Bulldogs to forget about such a big win.

“You don’t really forget about it,” junior quarterback Blaysin Fernandez said. “Really, our focus is on Porter and everything we’re doing now is about them. You can’t really forget about Port Neches [Groves] and we’re trying to keep our minds focused. It’s a brand new game, new atmosphere, first playoff game. That’s what we’re focused on now.”

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This week is also about Nederland’s return to the UIL playoffs after missing out last year, ending an eight-year postseason streak. Many of the Bulldogs’ key playmakers, including wide receiver Kevon Latulas and Fernandez, were not on the varsity when Nederland fell to eventual state champion George Ranch in the area round.

“I’m pretty sure me and the team have been working hard, nonstop, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got,” said Latulas, coming off his three-touchdown game and owning 12 on the year. “If we just play our game and play smart football, Bulldog football, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Nederland (7-2) has won three in a row and is looking to take down a Porter (7-3) club that narrowly beat Barbers Hill 10-7 to make Friday’s 5A Division I bi-district game at Channelview High’s Ray Maddry Stadium.

“Coming off our bye week and then having two district games left, it seemed like we were a refreshed team, kind of rejuvenated,” first-year Nederland coach Monte Barrow said. “It looked like we were a team ready to play another season of football. The playoffs [are] a new season. It’s hard to put a district opponent away. It’s even harder when it’s the playoffs because there is no tomorrow for any team. You’re going to get the best from everyone each and every week. All we want our players to do is do what they’ve done every week, which is to come out and play their best football they can play.”

Porter, a New Caney ISD high school in its eighth year of existence, was a new team to the postseason last year when Port Arthur Memorial humbled the Spartans 42-3 at their home Texan Drive Stadium.

But Barrow said the Spartans don’t hurt themselves, adding they specialize in the short-pass game to build long drives.

“They’re not going to give you anything on either side of the ball,” Barrow said. “They’re just a solid football team that takes care of the football, which tells me they’re well-coached and their players are disciplined. So, we’re going to earn everything we get in that game, which is something we’ve rallied around with this football team since Day 1.”

Fernandez noticed the intensity of practice this week has ratcheted up a notch from last week, when they were expecting to control their own destiny and make the playoffs with a win. Beaumont Central’s forfeit of a win over Ozen basically secured Nederland’s playoff berth before the PNG game.

“It’s really something we rallied on,” Fernandez said, referring to winning a hard-fought battle like last Friday. “It’s really something we’re going to remember throughout the season, and whatever fight we can take, that’s what we’re going to rally on.”

I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

**CORRECTS Blaysin Fernandez’s class**

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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