STAFF REPORT
KINGSVILLE — The 2014 football season came to an end for the Port Isabel Tarpons following a 52-22 loss to the Sinton Pirates on Friday in the Class 4A Division II bi-district playoffs at Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium.
It was a matchup between the District 16-4A Division II fourth-place Tarpons and the District 15-4A Division II champion Pirates.
Port Isabel trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before J.J. Gonzalez returned a kickoff 90 yards for the Tarpons’ first score.
The Pirates led 21-7 by the end of the first quarter and held a 33-7 advantage at intermission. Sinton took a 40-15 lead into the final period.
Sinton (8-3) now advances to the second round of the 4A Division II playoffs to face Crystal City or Hondo next week.
The Tarpons (7-4) were coming off a 6-0 loss at home in the rain against Raymondville in their regular-season finale on Nov. 7.
Friday marked the earliest postseason exit for Port Isabel since 2011. The Tarpons, previously competing in Class 3A, had advanced four rounds in 2012 and three rounds last year prior to their 2011 season, when they lost to Orange Grove 28-14 in bi-district to finish 6-5.