The Tarpons played their game plan to near perfection as they ran the ball, chewed up some clock and came away with a win.
“The kids played great today and they have been playing extremely hard giving it a great effort,” said Port Isabel head coach Monty Stumbaugh. “We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times with turnovers and getting penalties at the wrong time, but they have been playing hard.
“We’re going to play Cuero and I know a lot of people there, but we wanted to finish this on a good note. We didn’t finish it last year, this time we’re going into the playoffs with a little momentum.”
With the win, Port Isabel (6-3, 3-2) assured themselves of a third-place seed in District 16-4A DII and a bi-district playoff date with Cuero. Meanwhile the Kats (4-5, 2-3) are the fourth seed and have to face Sinton in the bi-district round and for the second time this season.
From the get-go the Tarpons’ running game gave the Bearkats’ defense problems, driving the ball down the field and getting on the scoreboard first after chewing up eight minutes off the clock.
Up 3-0 with 11:11 left in the second quarter, Carlos Orduna extended the Tarpons’ lead to 10-0 after a 3-yard touchdown.
However, the Bearkats responded and were able to put together an 80-yard, 13-play drive to cut PI’s lead down to 10-7 with 6:27 left in the second quarter.
In the third quarter Tarpon quarterback Omar Silva and Orduna connected to put the Tarpons ahead 21-7.
Orduna finished the night with 122 yards rushing and two TDs (one receiving). Meanwhile, teammate Silva rushed for 70 yards and passed for 51 yards and a score.
With 2:44 remaining in the game, Raymondville sophomore quarterback Daniel Gutierrez found 6-foot-2 receiver Sergio Gonzalez, who beat double coverage, and hauled in a 29-yard touchdown to cut the lead 21-14 late in the fourth.
Gutierrez finished game with 150 yards passing, one TD and one interception.
However, after a failed onside kick, the Tarpons picked up a first down and ran out the clock.
For the Bearkats, crucial penalties (65 yards total) played right into Port Isabel’s hands. Two costly back-to-back 15-yard penalties lead to the Tarpons’ third score.