PNG history question (Jackson Christian, most games played in school history?)

[Rez]

Probably not an easy way to verify this, but I’m hoping there’s some PnG history sleuths who might be able to answer: Is Jackson Christian the player with most games played in PNG history? 
 

Unless I’m mistaken, he’s been a starter for the last four years. We played 13 (2021), 16 (2022), 16 (2023), and will have at least 14 this year. I know he missed the Port Arthur game in 2023. There may be some other games where he was injured and didn’t play. But, it’s pretty staggering to think about how many more played games he’s had than most players. A lot of guys get 10 whole games for their whole high school varsity career. He’s pushing around 59 (depending on what games he’s missed). For some sense of the scale, I think he was the only player from either Texas High or PNG who played in both the 2021 and 2024 games. 
 

In summary, is anyone aware of the following? (1) what his actual games played number is; and (2) if there has ever been another png player to play so many or more games? I’m not sure it’s possible anyone has matched his number. The other long stretch we had with deep playoff runs was from 1974-1977 and we played a total of 58 games in that stretch. We’re about to play our 59th game in this 2021-2024 stretch. There could theoretically be a freshman starter from the 1974-1977 who played in all four years and had 58 games under his belt. If Jackson missed a few games, he won’t be quite at 59 games played (depending on how you count games where he’s on the sideline injured). I know he missed last year’s Port Arthur game. 

Regardless of where he actually falls in the list, it’s clear he’s one of the best and most experienced players in PNG history. His leadership really showed last week. 

[1970]

You're probably correct.  #4 and #43 have played in a lot of games also, although #43 was injured off season and has only had liited playing time even into the playoffs. 

[ndn2016]

8 hours ago, Rez said:

Probably not an easy way to verify this, but I’m hoping there’s some PnG history sleuths who might be able to answer: Is Jackson Christian the player with most games played in PNG history? 
 

Unless I’m mistaken, he’s been a starter for the last four years. We played 13 (2021), 16 (2022), 16 (2023), and will have at least 14 this year. I know he missed the Port Arthur game in 2023. There may be some other games where he was injured and didn’t play. But, it’s pretty staggering to think about how many more played games he’s had than most players. A lot of guys get 10 whole games for their whole high school varsity career. He’s pushing around 59 (depending on what games he’s missed). For some sense of the scale, I think he was the only player from either Texas High or PNG who played in both the 2021 and 2024 games. 
 

In summary, is anyone aware of the following? (1) what his actual games played number is; and (2) if there has ever been another png player to play so many or more games? I’m not sure it’s possible anyone has matched his number. The other long stretch we had with deep playoff runs was from 1974-1977 and we played a total of 58 games in that stretch. We’re about to play our 59th game in this 2021-2024 stretch. There could theoretically be a freshman starter from the 1974-1977 who played in all four years and had 58 games under his belt. If Jackson missed a few games, he won’t be quite at 59 games played (depending on how you count games where he’s on the sideline injured). I know he missed last year’s Port Arthur game. 

Regardless of where he actually falls in the list, it’s clear he’s one of the best and most experienced players in PNG history. His leadership really showed last week. 

Freshmen were not playing at high school in the 70's. Jr high was 7,8,9th grade

 

[pngfan316]

He wasn't on Varsity his Freshman Year.

[1989NDN]

From the Ethridge run, 1975-1976-1977, a few players played in 44 games and they were 41-3 with a state championship in 1975, semi-finals loss in 1976, and state finals loss in 1977.  In the 1970s, teams only played 15 games per year, not 16.  The playoff path was five games, not six (only one team per district made the playoffs).  I believe the kids who started all three years were OL Kern and OL Cooley.  The others I'm not sure.  I could be wrong.  That was 47-49 years ago.  Somebody else can follow-up and correct me.  Also, the PNG website has a history section and you can probably look it up.  RB James Shipley, OL Howard Kern, OL Jeff Cooley, LB Ted Brack, and WR Ronnie Delcambre.  I may have missed someone.  Too long ago.

From his sophmore season through the Texas High game, I believe Jackson Christian has played in 45 games and he has the hardware to match the guys from the 1970s...so he's the clubhouse leader and it would take another long run next year for JRs Aaron Wolford or Connor Bailey to catch him.  It's late, I hate math, and I could be all wrong.  Someone else can weigh-in.  Go Indians!

 

 

[aki1994]

8 hours ago, pngfan316 said:

He wasn't on Varsity his Freshman Year.

He played on varsity his freshman year. 5 games. 

[Rez]

3 hours ago, aki1994 said:

He played on varsity his freshman year. 5 games. 

So, that would have him at about 51 games, minus any he missed for injury. 

[cal81]

On a related subject, I believe that Derek Gholke could have been the first freshman to start a varsity game at PN-G in the early 2000s.  That first start was actually against Nederland, and Gholke started at middle linebacker and had an interception with a nice return early in that game.  Derek was later moved to running back.  Does that last name sound familiar?

[ndn2016]

Yeah he's wearing #17 and he's a freshman

 

[Aggie521]

18 hours ago, ndn2016 said:

Yeah he's wearing #17 and he's a freshman

 

#17 is Jude Gholke - Derek’s nephew. 

[ndn2016]

I already mentioned it in another post but he had several key plays at critical times in that TH game. He's kind of been running under the radar, but I don't think that's going to be the case going forward.