Tarpons defeat Yellowjackets in comeback win, 28-21 – Port Isabel-South Padre Press


By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.

On Friday, Sept. 27, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons took on the 5A Edcouch-Elsa [E-E] Yellowjackets in a non-district game. The Tarpons have won the matchup the last two years, but the Yellowjackets lead the all-time series 11-6.

Both teams have a long, rich football history playing in their respective classifications and their matchup brings a little more excitement from the teams and fans.

The Tarpons’ offense took the field first and saw themselves facing a fourth and one at their 39-yard line. Running Back Luis Ramos got his number called. He picked up the first down and more as he ran down the sidelines for a 27-yard gain.

The Tarpons continued to march down the field on a series of runs and got down to the Yellowjackets’ five-yard line. Unfortunately, the Tarpons turned the ball over on downs as they fell short by one yard on a fourth down play.

On the ensuing Yellowjackets possession, Quarter Back [QB] Elijah Trevino escaped for a 71-yard keeper. Fortunately, PI’s safety, Anthony Garcia, caught up to him in a touchdown-saving tackle. The Tarpons’ defense then clamped down and held them to a field goal try, which was unsuccessful as the game remained scoreless.

The Tarpons’ offense struggled to hold on to the ball on their next two drives. The second turnover led to a short 14-yard touchdown drive by the Yellowjackets as E-E went up 7-0 with 7:22 left in the first half.
PI’s returnman, A. Garcia, received the kickoff at his five-yard line and dashed by the would-be tacklers for a big 55-yard return. Unfortunately, the Tarpons fumbled again, this time into the hands of the defender, who ran it all the way back for the touchdown, giving the Yellowjackets a 14-0 lead with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

A bad kickoff by E-E put PI at midfield. From there, the Tarpons went on a five-play scoring drive capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Running Back [RB] Ramos. The Tarpons now trailed 14-7.

The Yellowjackets responded with a four-play scoring drive capped by a 74-yard catch and run pass play by QB Trevino to wide receiver [WR] Matthew Cano, as E-E extended their lead to 21-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Tarpons’ “Seawall Defense” picked up a backward pass to gain possession.

Unfortunately, the Tarpons’ offense gave it right back as E-E forced another fumble – the Tarpons’ fifth of the night.

On their ensuing possession, the Tarpons went on a seven-play scoring drive capped by a three-yard touchdown [TD] plunge by RB Ryan Cinfuegos (six carries, 55 yards, TD) as Port Isabel made it a 21-14 game. A 26-yard run by RB, Cinfuegos was the highlight of the drive.

Things got heated late in the third quarter as two PI players and an E-E player got flagged for unsportsmanlike penalties after the play was over, resulting in three ejections. After play resumed, the Tarpons’ defense made a crucial stop on fourth and two with E-E in Tarpon territory.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, PI blocked a punt in E-E territory and added the yardage on a penalty by the Yellowjackets. It put the ball on E-E’s 27-yard line. The Tarpons took advantage of the field position and scored in three plays as Ramos (19 carries, 82 yards, two TDs) capped the drive with a 21-yard TD run. The game was tied at 21-21 with 5:58 left in the game.

The Yellowjackets gained possession with less than two minutes left in the game. Facing a second and ten, E-E’s QB dropped back for a pass, but the ball was intercepted by PI’s A. Garcia. The hometown crowd erupted in cheers. Starting at E-E’s 34-yard line, the Tarpons went on a four-play scoring drive capped by a one-yard TD run by RB Dylan Green (14 carries, 65 yards, TD) as the Tarpons took a 28-21 lead with 28 seconds left in the game. E-E got the ball back but ran out of time. The game was over and the Tarpons won.

The Tarpons’ next game will be away against the Roma Gladiators on Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.





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