By: Constancio Martinez Jr
After suffering a disappointing loss to 3A Rio Hondo (26-21) the previous
week, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons were looking for redemption against the visiting
3A Raymondville Bearkats. What was to be a bounce-back win instead turned out
to be a devastating shutout loss.
As the game got underway, the Bearkats had a big kickoff to the 46-yard
line. A couple of plays later, Raymondville was threatening to score. However,
those plans were derailed when the Tarpons’ defense stripped the ball from the
Bearkats’ quarterback Jeffrey LeFevre during a keeper.
The Tarpons first offensive series ended quickly as it started, as they turned
the ball over on downs at their own 42-yard line.
Starting with good field position, the Bearkats managed to reached Port
Isabel’s 17-yard line before back-to-back sacks by the PI defense stalled the
Bearkats’ drive.
After a 3-and-out by PI’s offense, the Bearkats finally got on the scoreboard
as running back Cejay Orozco powered his way into the endzone for the score.
The highlight play of the drive was a 25-yard keeper up the middle by LeFevre.
A missed extra point try gave Raymondville an early 6-0 lead in the first
quarter.
At the top of second quarter, the Tarpons continued to struggle offensively,
turning the ball over on a fumbled snap.
With excellent field position at the Tarpons 28-yard line, the Bearkats just
needed one play to capitalize. Running back Orozco took the handoff and raced
up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown run. A missed 2-point play made it a 12-0
game with 8: 25 remaining in the second quarter.
On Port Isabel’s ensuing drive, running back Jesus Ramos broke free for a
55-yard run. Unfortunately for the Tarpons, the drive fizzled shortly afterward,
and turned the ball over on downs.
Starting from their own 20-yard line, the Bearkats started to march down
the field on an 8-play scoring drive, fueled by the hard running of RB Orozco. The
highlight of the drive came when quarterback LeFevre connected with his brother
wide receiver Richard LeFevre, on a 28-yard touchdown pass.
Raymondville carried a commanding 19-0 lead into halftime.
The second half didn’t get any better for the Tarpons, as they were forced
to punt in their opening series. The Bearkats, meanwhile, had no trouble moving
the ball, putting together a 11-play scoring drive to extend their lead to 26-0 with
5:12 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tarpons’ woes continued throughout the remainder of the game as
they were unable to find the endzone. Conversely, the Bearkats continued to roll,
securing a dominant 39-0 shutout win.
On a side note, Rio Hondo and Raymondville, both members of the
competitive District 3A-16 Division II, are fielding good teams this year.
Interestingly, the district has swept 4A Port Isabel on back-to-back seasons, with
Rio Hondo and Lyford beating the Tarpons in 2025.
Other notable Week 3 scores include, CC London over Gonzales, (34-14),
Ingleside over CC Moody (64-6), and La Feria over Hidalgo (34-7).
The Tarpons will look to right the ship as they open district play with a road
trip to Corpus Christi to face the CC London Pirates on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.