NEDERLAND - Ron Mohica was everywhere during Nederland's first four 2005 varsity football games. So when his family evacuated due to Hurricane Rita, Mohica was everywhere again.

Nederland's daredevil, do-it-all nose tackle spent nights in truckstops, and even hung out in the Chicago area for a couple of weeks.

Ron and six other family members crammed into two cars around Thursday morning at 8 a.m. The first night included deluxe accommodations - Mohica had to sleep in a parking lot at a truckstop in Jackson, Mississippi.

Why? That's easy. All the hotel rooms were booked too soon for the Mohica traveling squad to reserve.

”We tried to sleep but it was hard,“ the standout three-year Bulldogs starter said.

To more conveniently facilitate such sleep and for obvious security reasons, Ron's father (Ron Mohica, Sr.) stayed awake for virtually 34 consecutive hours.

”That's because he wanted to protect everyone and watch over us,“ the appreciative son recalled.

The thoughts were many and unforgettable. They would swim through Ron's head and some would seem more special than others. Mohica also barely may have a few vague memories of an early Saturday morning arrival (Sept. 24) into the Chicago suburb of Cicero, Ill.

For those Nederland fans with fuzzy memories, Mohica incredibly played with extremely excruciating pain through every bit of Nederland's most recent game, a Sept. 16 double-overtime marathon victory over Friendswood.

The nights after that game became very painful for Mohica to attempt to sleep. Ron never realized that Mother Nature planned to provide him with an unscheduled three-week rest period.

There's been a share of both good and bad news to that rest period, regarding the grade one AC tear to ligaments which hold together Mohica's shoulder.

”It gave me problems,“ Mohica admitted. ”I tried to work out in a gym and it (the shoulder injury) hurt a lot.“

Mohica believed the extended period of inactivity was beneficial for Ron's body but taxing on his spirits.

”It was good in a way, for my shoulder,“ he said. ”But I just missed the games.“

The strangest part of Ron's evacuation process may not have happened in a Chicago gym, or a Jackson truckstop. It probably took place right here in Mid-County. The Mohicas returned last Saturday after spending Friday night in Monroe, LA. Then Ron learned some really freaky stuff on Sunday evening back home. He was hanging out with a couple of buddies, Port Neches-Groves seniors Kane Segura and Don Cabangan.

”We were out in front of Kane Segura's house and over by Cabangan's truck, and Segura goes, ”Guess what, we're playing each other this week.“

Sure enough, the Indians had gotten their facts right. Nederland and Port Neches-Groves were playing each other on Saturday. A District 20-4A schedule re-draw resulted in the Indians and Bulldogs facing one another this week.

Just as they will do after this week's game, the Mid-County buddies got together last Sunday night, talking about the whole thing for an hour.

What was Ron's reaction to facing PN-G right away?

”Wow,“ he said.

”That was crazy. I didn't know what to say. My knees started shaking. I got goose bumps.“

Mohica's biggest regret by mid-week was that the Mid-County gladiators would have to collide away from Bulldog Stadium. Home soil would have been preferable.... much more preferable.

”I drove by the stadium and I saw there was a light post down,“ he said. ”I'm glad we get to play them. I'd way rather play them at the stadium but it doesn't change anything.''

BULLDOG BITES

Two Nederland starters missed Wednesday's practice after they had attended Tuesday's team meeting. Virus-related issues caused offensive tackle Zach Bass and linebacker Jarvis Benton to miss the workout. Both are still expected to play on Saturday.... NHS worked out at Prather Field and planned a similar but shorter practice for this morning at 8 a.m.... NHS coaches commended the NISD maintenance department workers for making extra efforts in allowing the Bulldogs to practice at Prather Field.... Another most-appreciated practice sidebar for Nederland was the large number of scout team participants from the junior varsity who attended the workout. ”Consequently we will take those JV players on the sideline with us when we play against PN-G,“ Neumann said.... NISD normally charges a $6 fee for purchasing tickets at the gate. That price may be reduced for the PN-G game because patrons will not have the opportunity to secure tickets during the pre-sale time frame.