Nederland’s huge victory makes Mid-County Madness even more vital.
Thanks to the Nederland Bulldogs’ tremendous win on Friday night, the upcoming game against Port Neches-Groves will be about more than simply bragging rights amongst rivals. There will also be a contest for first place in the District 8-5A-II standings.
The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-0) remained unbeaten in league action, defeating Lake Creek 43-35 in an interesting win in Nederland. In a back-and-forth game with numerous lead changes, the Bulldogs sealed the victory by scoring big runs and forcing multiple turnovers.
There were many highlight plays for Nederland during the important district win. Hubert Thomas’ 91-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 34-25, but the game was far from over.
Lake Creek would score the next ten points, retaking the lead at 35-34. However, it was another long touchdown run that pushed Nederland back ahead. KJ Tezeno scored a 60-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 40-35 in Nederland’s favor after a failed 2-point convert.
The Bulldogs subsequently secured the victory with a field goal and a late interception, advancing to the Mid-County Madness championship game against Port Neches-Groves. Nederland has now won four straight games since its only setback of the season to Silsbee in mid-September.
On Friday night, Port Neches-Groves (7-0, 4-0) extended their winning streak to 22 games with a 37-0 victory over West Fork. PN-G’s top playmakers on both sides of the ball should be rested for the Mid-County Madness game. While facing softer competition over the last two weeks, PN-G has used the opportunity to rest several starters and prepare for the late-season run.
This season, both Nederland and Port Neches-Groves have seen a lot of late-game drama. In addition to Friday’s stunning victory, the Bulldogs won a game against West Orange-Stark on the final play in Week 2 of the schedule.
PN-G has also had several games go down to the final play, including a thrilling 62-56 victory over Lake Creek in Week 4. Then, in the next game, Huntsville missed a game-tying field goal, allowing PN-G to win 24-21 on the road.
Will there be more late-night drama in Mid-County Madness? The game is known for its outrageous moves and frenzied finishes. It’s possibly the best rivalry in Texas high school football.
This year, both Nederland and Port Neches-Groves had flawless league records. The victor of Mid-County Madness will be in the driver’s seat for the district championship.
