By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
PORT ISABEL, TX—The Bobcats’ 26-21 victory over the Tarpons last Friday may not have been as picture-perfect as the 56-0 shutout win over the Brownsville Pace Vikings two weeks earlier, but for Rio Hondo Head Coach Rocky James, it’s the gritty play by his defenders against a longtime rival that he proudly stands behind.
The win leaves the Rio Hondo Bobcat Varsity Football Team at 2-0 and the Port Isabel Tarpons at 1-1.
Although the Bobcats’ offense is grabbing headlines early on once again, Coach James praised his defense and the last stand with less than a minute remaining, which helped Rio Hondo High School (RHHS) earn a hard-fought non-district victory.
“I think that stop will go a long way with our players, getting that stop and being able to prevent them from scoring; it could really carry us the rest of the way,” Coach James said.
He was referring to Bobcat senior defensive end Noe Leos’ fumble sack of Port Isabel quarterback Grayson Estes. The PI miscue occurred on a fourth-and-11 play at the Bobcats’ 35.
Grayson tried to find a receiver, but the pocket collapsed quickly. Bobcat senior linebacker Matthew Sanchez pounced on the loose ball, securing the victory.
With PI threatening at their home stadium, the momentum quickly shifted in RHHS’s favor.
It wasn’t the first time the Bobcats’ defense caused gridiron havoc. Late in the second quarter, the Tarpons ran out of time at the Bobcats’ nine-yard-line and were unable to get a snap off.
RHHS held a 13-7 lead at that time.
Coach James was satisfied that the Tarpons went into halftime without an offensive score. However, both teams scored on their first offensive drives of the second half.
RHHS extended its lead on a quick trip down the field. It was highlighted by Gonzalez’s 44-yard kickoff return to near midfield.
A healthy dose of senior running back Mario Lopez and quarterback Lopez’s completions to Gonzalez and senior wide receiver Manny Perez put RHHS in possession at the Tarpons’ four-yard-line.
Lopez helped his own cause with a quarterback keeper. After Vargas’ PAT, the Bobcats led 20-7.
The Tarpons responded with a much longer drive, but for the first time in the game, they were on the scoreboard with an offensive TD, though they still trailed, 20-14.
With the RHHS offense silenced for a bit, the Tarpons took advantage of another time-consuming drive and had their only lead with 10 minutes to play in the final quarter.
It was more than enough time for the Bobcats to wake up offensively.
With 7:22 left in the fourth quarter, Perez caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Lopez. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and both teams closed out the game.
FIRST HALF DOMINANCE
The Bobcats scored in the first quarter on a 57-yard pass play from quarterback Lopez to Michael Lopez. The receiver was left alone in the secondary and waited for the ball to come his way, clear of any Tarpon defender. Senior kicker Hector Vargas’ point-after try gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
Port Isabel responded on special teams.
RHHS’s squib kick landed in sophomore Ivan Medina’s hands, and his run resulted in an 85-yard TD on a kickoff return. The Tarpons tied it with a PAT.
The Bobcats broke the tie late in the opening quarter on a 22-yard screen pass from signal caller Lopez to junior wide receiver Sebastian Gonzalez.
Quarterback Lopez threw for 186 yards on 11-of-15 passing and three TDs.
Running back Lopez had 11 carries for 105 yards.
On defense, the team recorded three sacks and as many fumble recoveries.
Rolando Pastrana had 23 tackles, with Matthew Sanchez second with 16.
TRUE RIVALRY
The Bobcats have now beaten the Tarpons for a second consecutive year, but this rivalry has gone back and forth throughout James’ 21 years as head coach.
PI defeated RHHS from 2021 to 2024, but not before the Bobcats had dominated the Tarpons for six consecutive years.
No game was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is not a one-sided rivalry by any means, and it’s such a hyped-up game; the players look forward to it, as do the fans,” Coach James said. “I always know I can keep my job as long as we can beat PI. We joke that I can lose to everyone else, but when you beat PI … It’s a game I really care about, and from the stands, you can tell it’s a great atmosphere for everyone there.”
Since 2000, the series is now 14-12, with RHHS ahead.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Bobcats have played their first two games of the season away due to ongoing construction at their stadium. According to Rio Hondo ISD, the next “home” game is set for Friday, Sept. 17, against St. Joseph’s Academy. However, RHHS’s next game is this Friday at Edcouch-Elsa.
The Yellowjackets are 0-2 so far, with losses to San Benito and Mercedes. The Class 4A program played the Greyhounds close, losing 20-14. The ’Jackets were soundly beaten by the Tigers, 49-14.