KFDM COOP Posted October 8, 2008 Report Posted October 8, 2008 Grogan fulfills dream, sparks running game for Nederland By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND — Wareall Grogan should be careful what he wishes for — it might just happen after all. Once upon a time, a young quiet guy in Port Arthur named Jamaal Charles amazed and wowed many young athletes in his neighborhood. The Jamaal protege who visited Memorial’s practices often was an equally quiet, respectful copycat with a cherubic smile and a heart of gold. “I remember when I was a kid, I looked up to Jamaal Charles,†the 17-year-old Grogan told this reporter privately on Wednesday afternoon. Wareall attended Franklin elementary and Edison middle school . He appeared to be on track to follow in Jamaal’s Memorial footsteps. Then three years ago, the Memorial ninth grader and his family felt the wrath of Hurricane Rita in their Port Arthur residence. His mother Theresa, older brother Terrence and older sister Charelle took Wareall (pronounced War-L) to Nederland, where it appeared as if he was typecasted to become a star at defensive end. The idea of running like Jamaal appeared a very unlikely reality. The Titans would have loved to have this 5-11, 235-pounder, but he would transfer before his sophomore season to Nederland. “I would go to a lot of Memorial’s practices,†Grogan smiled. “I was going to Memorial until Rita. Our house got all messed. The rain flooded the walls and we had to move... Now I’m excited... It’s like a dream come true...†Running with the football returned to Wareall’s life as a sophomore on Nederland’s scout team but he liked his chance of playing plenty at defensive end. The opportunity came late in his sophomore year and Grogan thought he was there for keeps. “I had played defense my whole life,†he said. “I thought I was going to stay. I thought I could be an impact player at end or linebacker.†Grogan worked out a little during the summer with projected starting running back Justin Krautz. When he gained only 18 rushing yards on eight tries against West Orange-Stark, Grogan eagerly awaited Krautz’s return to running back and his homecoming at defensive end. That all changed in a week’s time with 223 yards and three touchdowns at Ozen and 152 yards and two touchdowns against PN-G. The son of Theresa Grogan and Houston resident Victor Douglas has had to come out of his shell a bit. KBMT Channel 12’s Dave Hofferth dropped in to visit with Grogan. The newspaper wanted Wareall to describe the feeling of being practically an overnight sensation. Lamar University would love to have him play for the Cardinals too. “He’s a good young man, but you’re lucky if you get more than a ‘yessir’ or a ‘no sir’ out of him,†NHS baseball boss and running backs Cody Robbins said. “He’s just real quiet. It’s not just being around the media. He’s that way all the time.†Robbins loved the chatter which Wareall produced when he grabbed the ball and dashed into Ozen’s defense on the counter sweep last Tuesday night. Ozen’s defenders are still watching the counter sweep in their dreams. Nick Smith and Stefan Huber delivered their share of textbook blocks, to be sure. But something else happened that night, too — Wareall ran with authority. “We had no idea,†NHS head coach Larry Neumann said on Wednesday afternoon right after the Ozen game. Grogan ran with confidence, not with any tentativeness at all. He kept running under control behind his pads. He stayed low, like Oregon State shorty and former Lamar Consolidated star Jacquizz Rodgers. Grogan fulfills dream, sparks running game for Nederland By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News “Those kinds of runners can be very effective, because they get lost in the pile surrounded by so many taller linemen,†Huber said. “He could be a really good running back for us.†He already is, Stefan. He’s among District 20-4A’s leading rushers in not much more than 2 1/2 games. “I had a bad game against West Orange, too,†Grogan said. “Then when we went to Ozen, the sweep worked all night. And then with PN-G, I think they were trying to defend the run more, and that’s what opened up the passing game.†Have District 20-4A seen the utmost of Wareall’s talent? Neumann is not so sure that Grogan has reached his ceiling. “He has a large upside,†Neumann said. “He’s certainly quiet but I believe he’s most popular with most of his peers.†After Nederland’s 41-21 win over PN-G, Wareall has become fairly popular with Bulldogs backers everywhere. Bulldog Bites Starting wide receivers Asa Cardenas and Ryan Brady missed Wednesday’s practice due to a virus which has been circulating within the team. Neumann was hoping they would be able to play on Friday at 7:30 in Little Cypress.... There were no significant injuries or lineup changes which resulted from the win against PN-G on Saturday night.... Top tacklers against PN-G were end Anthony Maddox (8 solos and 2 assists), CB Adrian Pina (6 and 5), LB Grant Lovelady (5 and 4) and DB Jimmy Swain.... Two of the most superior Nederland performers in last week’s two victories were senior center Trey Terracina and junior placekicker Taylor Trahan. Terracina was quite accurate on his variety of snaps plus his blocks. Trahan made field goals, 50-yard punts, two-step kickoffs to neutralize kick returns and a kickoff or two out of the end zone....
Guest Luv Ya Blue Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 L Train will be ready for him!
UTfanatic Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 L Train will be ready for him! l train couldn't stop Vidor. There is no way they can stop Grogan, unless they put 8 or 9 in the box, then Bellows will pass for about 500 yards. Get ready l train, Nederland is coming. ;D
YankeeDawg Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 L Train will be ready for him! Ready to stop him..probably ABLE to stop him...i don't think so
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