Baytown Sterling at Port Arthur Memorial: UIL Week 9 Preview

Fri 10/23, 2026, 7:00 PM | Port Arthur Memorial home field | District 9-5A Division I (UIL)

By Tori Dixon, Gridiron Gumbo

The setup

Memorial wants to bounce back from its first loss and stay near La Porte (5-0).

T-Rohn says: Baytown Sterling at Port Arthur Memorial. Port Arthur is close enough to Louisiana that the gumbo has a passport and a strong accent.

Records, results & standings

• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): Baytown Sterling 5-3, 3-3 district (5th). Results: W 31-10 @Lee, W 41-10 Alvin, W 28-27 @New Caney*, L 35-14 Lufkin*, W 43-20 @Ball*, W 28-21 Goose Creek Memorial*, L 55-23 @West Brook*, L 55-13 La Porte*.
• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): Port Arthur Memorial 6-1, 4-1 district (2nd). Results: W 35-27 Port Neches-Groves, W 47-7 @Bellaire, W 29-7 @Lufkin*, W 55-7 Ball*, W 23-0 @Goose Creek Memorial*, W 21-7 West Brook*, L 51-27 @La Porte*.
• REPORTED (Beaumont Enterprise ‘In the huddle’ district preview, Aug 2026): Memorial head coach Brian Morgan; the Titans went 14-1 in 2025 and reached the state semifinals.
• CONFIRMED (SETXsports standings, checked Oct. 19): Memorial allows 15.1 ppg, best among core SETX schools.

* = district game

Storylines & stakes

• Memorial is coming off an open date after its first loss (51-27 at La Porte, 10/9). Sterling has lost two straight by a combined 110-36.
• Memorial’s remaining games, @Beaumont United and New Caney, decide its seeding behind 5-0 La Porte. Sterling (3-3) is fighting to hold a top-four spot.
• Playoff format: UIL normally advances the top four teams in each district (general UIL format, REPORTED).

Styles & coaching notes

Memorial: defense-first; four of six wins came with 10 or fewer points allowed. REPORTED (BE preview): players to watch include LB Ja’Marquis Hudson; quarterback was ‘a question’ entering the season.

T-Rohn says: Memorial’s defense allows fewer points than any team in the area. Their fans allow fewer empty seats. Sterling fans, bring your own lawn chair just in case.

The pick

TAKE: Port Arthur Memorial 38, Baytown Sterling 15 — Memorial allows 15.1 ppg, best among core SETX schools (SETXsports); Sterling has lost its last two by a combined 110-36 (MaxPreps).

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