By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
District 16-4A DII headlines the Valley Morning Star’s Week 8 Game of the Week, which features the Port Isabel Tarpons hosting the Rio Hondo Bobcats this Friday night at Tarpon Stadium in Port Isabel.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The old rivalry, although just the second district game for both, could give the winner the upper hand in the district race, as both come in tied for first in the district.
Both teams come in with good records and have just one loss between them.
This week, however, something has got to give as both teams are undefeated against the Rio Grande Valley.
Port Isabel (6-0, 1-0) comes in ranked No. 12 in the Texas High School AP poll.
The Tarpons come into this game rolling after dismantling Progresso this past week 61-7.
The Tarpons continue to be fueled by their running back Alex De Los Santos and are in the top half of the district in total defense.
De Los Santos leads the District this year, rushing for 771 yards and nine touchdowns on the year and has rushed for at least 106 yards in four of the Tarpon’s six games this year.
Right behind him this season is the second part of the Tarpon punch on the ground Jaime Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has rushed for 753 yards this year and found the end zone seven times.
Meanwhile, Rio Hondo comes into the matchup after a district-opening 19-6 win over West Oso and are riding a three-game winning streak.
Their only loss came at the hands of a non-valley team, losing to Sinton back in Week 3 35-7.
Since then they have run through Hidalgo, Grulla and West Oso, winning those contests by an average of 23 points a game.
Leading the way has been Marco Garate who has run for 642 yards and five touchdowns in the last three outings.
The matchup on the ground should tell the story in this one as both have solid defenses.
The Bobcats, however, have the district’s top defense overall and is the best unit against the run this year.