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Nederland vs PN-G: 100 Years of Mid-County Madness
The History
1941
Mid County Madness has been going on for 100 years. Check out this newspaper full page announcement of the big game, published in the Mid County Chronicle in 1941. Hear a distinguished panel of sportswriters talk about the greatest football rivalry in the nation, right here, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1959
In this 1959 column, sportswriter Russ Devillier and Mid County Chronicle editor Red Wilkerson discuss the history of the Nederland/PNG rivalry. Wilkerson had seen every game since 1932. Hear a panel of esteemed sportswriters talk about the PNG vs Nederland rivalry on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1974
In 1974, John Devillier wrote about some of the big games in the Nederland vs PNG rivalry. Hear stories about Mid County Madness from the sportwriters who covered it, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1977
In 1977, Burt Darden published an article in which he interviewed I. B. Griffith, who was the head coach of the Indians from 1930 - 1935, and head coach of the Bulldogs from 1936 - 1944. Griffith won a district title with Port Neches in 1933, and a Regional title in 1934. After going to Nederland, the Bulldogs were District champs in '37, '39, '42, and 44, including a Regional championship in '42, and Regional co-championship in '44. Hear veteran sportswriters talk about the PNG vs Nederland football rivalry on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
2024
In 2024, Mid County Madness was raging, as both communities looked forward to the big game. Hear about Mid County Madness from the sportswriters who have covered it, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
2025
Sportswriter Tom Halliburton wrote this article in the 2025 Beaumont Enterprise, commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Mid County Madness. Hear about the 100-year rivalry between Nederland and PN-G, right here, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
The Games
1971
In 1971, PN-G junior runningback Jeff Bergeron rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns against the Bulldogs in a Tribe 51 - 13 victory. Hear about that game and that outstanding performance on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1974
The 1974 meeting between Nederland and PN-G generated controversy. Hear about that 20-17 last-minute Indian victory on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1974
The 1974 Indians went on to the State Semifinals, and the win against Nederland put them in position to make that playoff run. The win also ushered in a 4-year period of Glory Days for the Indians. Hear about the fallout of that 1974 game on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1974
Bulldog head coach Neal Morgan, after losing that 1974 game vs PNG, refused to play the game with local officials. Hear about the fallout of that 1974 game on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1984
In 1984, the Bulldogs scored a big 13 - 7 win over PN-G: it ended a 20-year winless drought. Hear the sportswriters talk about this historic win on Down Trails of Victory podcast.
1990
In 1990, the rivalry turned bitter, as Indian head coach Danny Malone and Bulldog head coach Bobby August traded barbs against each other in the newspaper. Hear sportswriter Tom Halliburton talk about these two personalities, and their relation to Mid County Madness, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1998
In 1998, Tom Halliburton penned an article about two coaches he had the utmost respect for: PN-G's Matt Burnett, and Nederland's Larry Neumann. Hear the sportswriters talk about these two legendary coaches on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
2024
In 2024, the Bulldogs under new head coach Scott Rich stunned the defending State champions Indians in a 24 -21 thriller at the Reservation. Hear the sportswriters talk about this big Nederland win on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
The Bum Phillips Trophy
the bum phillips trophy
In 2014, the Bum Phillips trophy was started, and it is awarded to the winning school of the PN-G vs Nederland rivalry. The trophy is named for Coach Bum Phillips, who was head coach at both schools during his illustrious coaching career. Hear the sportswriters talk about the Bum Phillips Trophy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
wade phillips and bob west
The Bum Phillips Trophy was the brainchild of Port Arthur News sports editor Bob West. This is a picture of Bob West with Bum Phillips' son, legendary coach and PNG grad Wade Phillips. Hear about the origin of the Bum Phillips Trophy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
wade phillips at Png win
Super Bowl winning coach Wade Phillips has been present at Nederland vs PNG ballgames, and has presented the Bum Phillips Trophy to the winning team. Hear about the nation's NUMBER ONE high school football rivalry on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
wade philliips at nederland win
Wade Phillips attended Nederland schools when his father Bum Phillips was coaching at Nederland. Wade, a Super Bowl winning defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, has been on hand to present the Bum Phillips Trophy to the winning school. Hear about the famous mid county, 100-year old rivalry between Port Neches-Groves and Nederland, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
who will hold the trophy in 2025?
who will hold the trophy in 2025?
Who will hoist the Bum Phillips Trophy in 2025? The only thing that's certain going into the game is, expect the unexpected. Hear about this 100-year old rivalry on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
The Sportswriters
russ devillier with brother john devillier
Russ Deviller (L), is shown here with his brother John Devillier. Hear the panel give props to the legendary sportswriter John Devillier on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
tom halliburton
Tom Halliburton is shown here in a picture from his high school yearbook at Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Tom first started his journalism career in 1967. Hear Tom Halliburton talk about Mid County Madness--a term that he originated--on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
burt darden and the news, 1970s
Burt Darden was a well known sportswriter for the Port Arthur News in the 1970s. Hear Burt Darden talk about his days covering the Indians and Bulldogs, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
burt darden and bob west
This is a picture of Burt Darden (center) and sports editor Bob West (right) at a sporting event covered by the Port Arthur News. Hear the panel of sportswriters pay tribute to Bob West on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
bob west and larry bodin
Port Arthur News sports editor Bob West and reporter Larry Bodin prodigiously covered mid county sports. Hear today's sportswriters pay tribute their colleagues who have passed on, right here, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
bob west and son damon
Hear about Port Arthur News sports editor Bob West, and his impact on mid county sports, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! This picture is of Bob and his son Damon, who was a featured guest in Season One of Down Trails of Victory podcast.
i beat bob west
i beat bob west
i beat bob west
In the 1980s, Port Arthur News sports editor Bob West ran a weekly contest called "I Beat Bob West." He posted upcoming high school, college, and pro football games, and challenged News readers to compete against him and his team of reporters. In 1992, Down Trails of Victory host Buck Ford won first place one week, and received a "I Beat Bob West" clock. Included in the pool of competitors were sportswriters Tom Halliburton, Larry Bodin, and Bob West himself--all of whom are cited on this special edition of Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Purchase Down Trails of Victory
Down Trails of Victory, published in 1994, is a classic whose prose will forever be fresh. Currently in its second printing, its first printing sold out in six weeks!
Included in Down Trails of Victory are:
- Extensive commentaries by coaches and players, many of whom have now passed on, but whose voice forever lives within the book
- Complete narrative history of every season, 1925 - '93
- Chapter covering the origins of several Indian traditions, including the Indian Spirit, Indianettes, the Fight Song, Cherokee, and the Marching I
- Over 500 pages (including Acknowledgements and Foreword)
- Over 325 photos
- Over 65 manuscripts and documents
- Comprehensive player, coaches, and cheerleader rosters
- Much, much more...
The games, the rivalries, the great victories, the heartbreaking defeats, the heroes, the opponents--they're all here. Discover how it was from the players and coaches themselves. Open the book, and take a fascinating journey with them--Down Trails of Victory!
The Podcast Team
Dr. Jon Buck Ford--Host
Buck is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School. He has written two books pertaining to SE Texas history: On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Stephen F. Austin Football 1979 - 1988, and Down Trails of Victory: The Story of Port Neches-Groves High School Football. Buck retired after 40 years in Texas Public Schools, as an English teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He enjoys spending time with his wife Wanda Carole (Wrinkle), playing the piano, traveling, and researching genealogy.
Judge Brad Burnett--Podcast Partner
Judge Brad Burnett is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School, His career includes previous positions as a real estate broker, and as a plant manager at US Intec. Judge Burnett has devoted his life to serving Southeast Texas. He served three terms on the PN-G ISD school board, before his election as Justice of the Peace of Jefferson County Pct. 7, a position he has held since 2002. Judge Burnett is active in many community organizations, and is in constant demand as a speaker for civic, school, and church groups. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Teresa (Lee), and has three "awesome" grandkids. From the book Down Trails of Victory, "(Brad) was a constant encourager throughout the years as I worked on the book. He believed in me and my dream, and his support gave me confidence in myself. He attended many of the panel interviews with former players, and we had a continual dialogue over the years about the status of the book. ...Thank you, Brad," page ix. --Dr. Jon Buck Ford
Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford Producer
Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford was born in Mamou, Louisiana, and lived in Southeast Texas for 40 years. She graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont as a Registered Nurse in 1990. She is multi-talented with a diverse background and range of experiences. In addition to being a song writer and award-winning photographer, she also served as publisher and editor of the best selling book Down Trails of Victory, without whose help the book never would have been written. Wanda Carole specializes in wildlife photography, enjoys traveling, gardening, helping her friends and family, genealogy, playing the piano, and undertaking new challenges.