By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, September 4, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons hosted their longtime rival, the 3A Rio Hondo Bobcats, in a Week 2 matchup. The teams have traded wins throughout the years, with Port Isabel holding a 39-33-1 overall lifetime record against Rio Hondo entering the game. The Bobcats won lasts years meeting, 35-22, but the Tarpons were eager to even the score and get some payback.
As the game got underway, the Tarpons get off to a rocky start as they were force to punt the ball away after only picking up 21 yards on 9 plays.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats had no trouble moving the ball on their first offensive series, needing just three plays to march 74 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. The highlight of the drive was a 57-yard touchdown reception by WR Michael Lopez from quarterback Matthew Lopez.
The Bobcats put the ball into play with another “squib kick” during the kick off, which PI return man Ivan Medina fielded at the 15-yard line. Medina initially followed his blockers toward the right side before cutting back to the left, finding an opening and racing 85 yards for kickoff return touchdown. The game was now tied at 7-7, with left in the first quarter.
On the Bobcats’ ensuing drive, the ever-confident head coach Rocky James elected to go for it on a 4th and 1 from their own 37-yard line. As the ball was snapped, PI outside linebacker Elijah Alvarez burst through the gap and tackled the runner for a 2-yard loss, halting the Bobcat’s drive.
The Tarpons took over with great field position at the Bobcats 35-yard line, unfortunately for Port Isabel, they hand the ball over two plays later on a force fumble by the Bobcats.
From their own 46-yard line, QB Lopez completed a 25-yard pass play to his WR Lopez who used all his 6’-5” frame to come down with the ball. On the next play, QB Lopez threw the ball to his running back Sebastian Gonzalez who ran it down the sideline for the score. An unsuccessful 2-point play had the Bobcats with a 13-7 lead.
Starting from their own 8-yard line, the Tarpons went on a promising drive behind some hard running by running backs Jesus Ramos, Michael Finona, and Medina. Unfortunately, the ball is stripped at the Bobcats’ 6-yard line where Rio Hondo recovered.
Port Isabel made one final push before the half but came up short as the clock expired at the Bobcats 10-yard line.
The Bobcats came out of the halftime break on fire. After a 44-yard kick return, the Bobcats then went on a 3-minute, 7-play scoring drive to extend their lead to 20-7. The drive was capped by a 5-yard touchdown on a keeper by QB Lopez.
Port Isabel responded with a 7-play scoring drive of their own to make it a 20-14 game with 6:12 left in the third quarter. The highlight of the drive was a 35-yard touchdown run by RB Bryan Ramirez.
Both teams struggled with miscues for the next handful of possessions, with penalties and fumbles. None more critical than a Rio Hondo fumble during a punt, when the snap sailed over the punter’s head and rolled to the one-yard line, where PI’s Jahir Vasquez pounced on the loose ball.
PI quarterback Grayson Estes then plunged into the endzone for the score. A successful extra point kick, gave PI its first lead of the game, 21-20, with 9:46 left in the game.
Not to be outdone, the Bobcats responded with a 5-play scoring drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown reception by WR Manny Perez. A key play of the drive was a 43-yard run by RB Mario Lopez who was thought to be tackled, but he actually landed on the defender and kept on running to the 4-yard line where he was finally tackled by Medina.
The Bobcats eventually scored via the pass, but an unsuccessful 2-point try had Rio Hondo now leading 26-21, with 7:43 left in the game.
With plenty of time left, Port Isabel attempted to mount one last scoring drive. With less than a minute left in the game and facing a 4th and 11 at the Bobcats 35-yard line, QB Estes dropped back for a pass. Forced to scramble out of the pocket, Estes was hit as he tried to make something happen and fumbled the ball, ending the Tarpons’ final threat.
The Rio Hondo Bobcats held on for the 26-21 victory.
Offensive Coordinator, John Mark Calvillo believes the offense could do much better if they limit their mistakes.
“We have done a good job of moving the football and controlling the clock but we need to minimize the mistakes that have been hurting drives. No defense has slowed us down, we are the ones stopping ourselves with mental mistakes and not taking care of the football.” Stated Calvillo.
It doesn’t get any easier for (1-1) Port Isabel in Week 3 as the Tarpons prepare to face the surging (2-0) Raymondville Bearkats. The Kats are coming off an impressive 63-12 win over St. Joe and will bring plenty of momentum into the matchup.
The showdown will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 at Tarpon Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.