By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The part of the regular season that counts the most begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the Port Isabel Tarpons and Progreso Red Ants.
They play their District 16-4A Division II opener at Tarpon Stadium.
“Season 1 (of non-district play) is over now,” Tarpons coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “Season 2’s in (place as district starts). Season 2 is what’s going to get you to Season 3 (which is the playoffs, if you do well).
“The next five weeks will determine if you’re in or out (of the postseason),” Stumbaugh added. “Every game is big. This one between Progreso and us is important for both teams. We each want to start off district 1-0.”
Port Isabel is 3-1 with wins against Grulla (31-19), Rio Grande City (13-7) and Valley View (14-7). The Tarpons lost at St. Joseph Academy 42-27 on Sept. 25. Port Isabel had an open date last week.
Progreso is 1-3 with a 40-13 victory against Hebbronville on Sept. 18. The Red Ants, also open last week, have lost to Porter (35-9), Hidalgo (47-30) and La Feria (59-14).
When the Red Ants and Tarpons played a district opener last year in Progreso, Port Isabel won 61-7.
“Port Isabel is always Port Isabel and has a great program, so you always expect a great game (from them),” Progreso coach Tom Salazar said. “We tell our players that they’ve got all the tools (they need to win). Everything’s in (as far as the game plan). Now it’s mental.
“We need to have the right mentality,” Salazar added. “With a positive attitude, we can play with these guys and win.”
The Red Ants will be going against a Port Isabel team that is being quarterbacked by junior Omar Silva, who ranks third in the district in rushing and leads the team with 288 yards and three touchdowns.
Stumbaugh said the Tarpons must be prepared to play well against Progreso.
“They play hard, and they’re aggressive on defense,” the Port Isabel coach said of the Red Ants. “They’re doing a good job on special teams. We’ve got to be ready for them.”
District action continues next Friday as the Tarpons travel to Rio Hondo and the Red Ants play host to Orange Grove.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.