Nederland at Port Neches-Groves: UIL Week 9 Preview

Fri 10/23, 2026, 7:00 PM | The Reservation, Port Neches | District 10-5A Division II (UIL)

By Remus Dixon, Gridiron Gumbo

The setup

Mid-County rivalry with first place in 10-5A DII on the line (both 3-0).

T-Rohn says: Nederland at Port Neches-Groves, the Mid-County rivalry. Both 3-0. These two towns are so close that the border is mostly decided by which side of the street your aunt lives on.

Records, results & standings

• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): Nederland 5-2, 3-0 district (1st). Results: L 28-33 @West Brook, L 9-21 @West Orange-Stark, W 28-24 Silsbee, W 22-21 @Almeta Crawford, W 40-6 Lee*, W 56-7 @Galena Park*, W 38-0 Santa Fe*.
• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): Port Neches-Groves 4-3, 3-0 district (2nd). Results: L 27-35 @Port Arthur Memorial, W 50-25 West Brook, L 23-28 Almeta Crawford, L 14-45 @Brenham, W 63-21 @Santa Fe*, W 56-23 Texas City*, W 34-0 @Dayton*.
• REPORTED (Beaumont Enterprise ‘In the huddle’ district preview, Aug 2026; 12NewsNow 2025): head coaches Scott Rich (Nederland) and Jeff Joseph (PNG).

* = district game

Storylines & stakes

• Both are 3-0 in 10-5A-II, so the winner takes the inside track to the district title. Remaining: Nederland — Texas City, @Dayton. PNG — @Lee, Galena Park.
• Nederland has won five straight and has allowed 13 points in three district games. PNG has outscored district foes 153-44.
• Common opponents: West Brook (Nederland lost 33-28; PNG won 50-25) and Almeta Crawford (Nederland won 22-21; PNG lost 28-23).
• Playoff format: UIL normally advances the top four teams in each district (general UIL format, REPORTED).

Styles & coaching notes

PNG’s offense (38.0 ppg) against Nederland’s defense (16.0 allowed); SETXsports figures.

T-Rohn says: Rivalry week means families split at the dinner table. Pass the potato salad, keep your eyes on your plate, and do not under any circumstances bring up whose town has the better Christmas lights.

History / series

REPORTED (12NewsNow, Oct 2025): ‘Mid-County Madness’ began in 1925 (Nederland 6-0), and the trophy honors Bum Phillips, who coached both schools. PNG leads the all-time series, 54-40-7 entering the 2025 meeting, which 12NewsNow called the 102nd.

The pick

TAKE: Port Neches-Groves 32, Nederland 23 — PNG has outscored district foes 153-44 and beat West Brook 50-25, a team that beat Nederland 33-28 (MaxPreps).

T-Rohn says: We like PNG by nine. Nederland fans will say we’re biased. Good, cher, that means we’re even.

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