South Oak Cliff left no doubt on Friday night, dismantling Port Neches-Groves 56-14 in the 5A Division II Region II final at Homer Bryce Stadium. The victory avenged last year’s heartbreaking state championship loss to PNG and secured SOC a spot in the state semifinals for the third time in four years.
The Golden Bears set the tone early when Mikail Trotter returned the opening kickoff 76 yards to the PNG 8-yard line. Just moments later, quarterback Carter Kopecky connected with Torrin Teague for a 13-yard touchdown, putting SOC ahead 7-0 just 19 seconds into the game. SOC struck again after an interception, with Levon Morton breaking free for a 34-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 before PNG could settle in.
Port Neches-Groves showed flashes of life when Mason Wuenschel punched in a 3-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-7. However, SOC’s relentless offense and opportunistic defense proved too much. Running back Damond Williams rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns, while Kopecky threw for 151 yards and three scores. SOC’s defense forced two turnovers and held PNG to just 193 total yards, dominating on both sides of the ball.
By halftime, SOC led 35-14 and never looked back. The Golden Bears tacked on 21 unanswered points in the second half, sealing a resounding victory. SOC will face Argyle in the state semifinals, setting the stage for a rematch of their 2022 showdown. With redemption fueling their run, SOC looks poised for another shot at the state title.
Watch a replay of the game here: nfhs-network.pxf.io/zxxPVO
Final Score:
Port Neches-Groves (Indians): 14
South Oak Cliff (Golden Bears): 56
Box Score: South Oak Cliff vs. Port Neches-Groves
Scoring Summary:
| Quarter | PNG | SOC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 21 |
| 2 | 7 | 14 |
| 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | 0 | 14 |
| Final | 14 | 56 |
Team Statistics
| Stat | Port Neches-Groves | South Oak Cliff |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 9 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 193 | 442 |
| Passing Yards | 29 | 161 |
| Completion Attempts | 3-8 | 7-9 |
| Yards Per Pass | 3.63 | 17.89 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 1 | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 164 | 281 |
| Rushing Attempts | 42 | 28 |
| Yards Per Rush | 3.9 | 10.04 |
| Penalties | 2-25 | 8-81 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Player Statistics
Port Neches-Groves: Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Bailey | 3 | 8 | 37.5 | 29 | 0 | 1 |
South Oak Cliff: Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Kopecky | 6 | 8 | 75 | 151 | 3 | 0 |
| Nate Coleman | 1 | 1 | 100 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Port Neches-Groves: Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyson Henry | 30 | 150 | 5 | 1 |
| Mason Wuenschel | 4 | 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Blair Chatagnier | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Caden Naquin | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Connor Bailey | 2 | -11 | -5.5 | 0 |
South Oak Cliff: Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikail Trotter | 10 | 79 | 7.9 | 1 |
| Damond Williams | 5 | 73 | 14.6 | 2 |
| Carter Kopecky | 2 | 51 | 25.5 | 0 |
| Levon Morton | 4 | 40 | 10 | 1 |
| Justin Whitaker | 1 | 22 | 22 | 1 |
| Brayden Burns | 5 | 14 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Kamauryn Morgan | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Port Neches-Groves: Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Nunley | 2 | 24 | 12 | 0 |
| Tyson Henry | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
South Oak Cliff: Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie McNeal | 2 | 88 | 44 | 1 |
| Nate Coleman | 2 | 45 | 22.5 | 1 |
| Torrin Teague | 3 | 28 | 9.33 | 1 |
