NEW CANEY — Nearly two football fields worth of penalties and an ejection doomed the Port Arthur Memorial Titans as they fell for the first time this season in a 38-21 loss to the New Chaney Eagles at Texan Drive Stadium on Friday.

The Titans (5-1, 2-1 in 12-5A-I) had 15 penalties for 220 yards, including the ejection of JaVontae’ Hopkins in the fourth quarter after his second personal foul penalty. The Titans had 13 personal foul penalties on the night.

Memorial struck first on 57-yard pass from Kameron Ladia to Alex Ned with 3:37 left in the first quarter.

After a good kick return by the Eagles (5-1, 3-0), New Caney took over at the Titans’ 43. Eagles’ quarterback Zion Childress took the next snap and ran 33 yards down to the 10-yard line. The Memorial defense held strong and forced a 35-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 with 2:27 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Ladia was picked off by New Caney’s Jaylen Neal, giving the Eagles the ball on their own 45. The Titans defense held tough again, forcing a turnover on downs at the Memorial 27.

After a three-and-out forced the Titans to punt, Memorial recovered a muffed punt to take over at the Eagles 31. Two plays later, Branden Chaney ran into the end zone from two yards out to make the score 14-3 with 8:39 left in the second quarter.

The Eagles racked up nearly 200 yards of total offense more than the Titans (452-267).

 

The game changed when …

On the next play from scrimmage, Childress found Gerome Henry for a 75-yard strike that made the score 14-10 with 8:26 left in the first half.

With 2:51 left in the first half, the Eagles lined up for a punt. Instead of the snap going to the punter, the up back took the snap up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown to give New Caney their first lead of the game. At halftime, the score was 17-14 in favor of the Eagles.

Midway through the third quarter, the Eagles extended their lead after a 25-yard touchdown run by Childress.

The Titans had multiple chances to get back in the game late, the first of which was squandered after a sack on third down was negated by a face mask call that gave the Eagles a fresh set of downs.

Down by 10 in the fourth quarter, the Titans recovered a fumble inside New Caney territory. The good field position vanished after another untimely personal foul call forced Kenny Pham to attempt a 40-yard field goal, which he missed.

 

The game ball goes to …

Childress, who finished the game with 25 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown to go along with his 5-of-15 passing for 123 yards and a touchdown. Childress’ elusiveness was a problem was a problem for the Titans, who had a hard time grabbing the quarterback who consistently broke containment for big play.

 

Next up …

The Titans host Porter for Memorial’s homecoming game at Memorial Stadium. The Eagles will host Kingwood Park at Texan Drive Stadium. Both games are set for 7 p.m. Friday.

 

Eagles 38, Titans 21

Memorial 7 7 0 7 — 21

New Caney 3 14 7 14 — 38

First quarter

Mem — Alex Ned 57 pass from Kameron Ladia (Kenny Pham kick), 3:47

NC — Eduardo Martinez 35 field goal, 2:27

Second quarter

Mem — Branden Chaney 2 run (Kenny Pham kick), 8:39

NC — Gerome Henry 75 pass from Zion Childress (Martinez kick), 8:26

NC — C.J. Sanders 50 run (Martinez kick), 2:51

Third quarter

NC — Childress 25 run (Martinez kick), 6:12

Fourth quarter

Mem — Chaney 1 run (Pham kick), 10:48

NC — Kameron Tyler 30 run (Martinez kick), 9:12

NC — Henry 9 run (Martinez kick), 3:37

Mem NC

Rushes-yards 55 329

Passing yards 212 123

Total yards 267 452

Comp-Art-Int 16-31-2 5-15-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 16-225 7-75

 

Individual leaders

RUSHING — Memorial: Chaney 22-83, Ned 1- (-11), Ladia 2-(-17). New Caney: Childress 25-150, Anthony Robles 16-59, Tyler 10-58, Sanders 1-49, Henry 3-13.

PASSING — Memorial: Ladia 16-31-2, 212. New Caney: Childress 5-15-0, 123.

RECEIVING — Memorial: Ned 5-106, Teajawon Mack 6-61, Tavion Gipson 4-44, Chaney 1-1. New Caney: Henry 2-86, Isaiah Aiken 3-37.