By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — Orange Grove took a step toward capturing another outright District 16-4A Division II title by defeating the Port Isabel Tarpons 36-14 on Friday at Tarpon Stadium.
The Bulldogs (8-0, 4-0 district) have been members of 16-4A Division II for two seasons now and have yet to lose a district game. They won 16-4A DII with a 5-0 record last season and will try for another perfect 5-0 mark when they close out the regular season next Friday at home against West Oso (2-7, 1-3).
Friday’s win clinched at least a share of the district crown.
The Bulldogs trailed 6-0 after one quarter but came back to lead 14-6 at intermission. Orange Grove took a 30-6 advantage into the fourth quarter thanks to a pair of third-period TDs and a safety.
A sporadic light drizzle fell, increasing near the end of the game. Meanwhile, a constant strong wind from the south blew throughout the contest, hampering each team’s passing game to a certain extent, although the Tarpons mostly preferred to run the ball.
Despite the loss, Port Isabel (5-3, 2-2) has secured a trip to playoffs and will try to bounce back next Friday at Raymondville in its regular-season finale.
The Bulldogs, behind the play of running back Alex Acuna and quarterback Hondo Harris, both seniors, were just too much for the Tarpons.
Acuna rushed for touchdowns on plays covering 3, 3 and 27 yards during the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and Harris threw TD passes of 10 yards to Jordan Garcia during the second period and 29 yards to Connor Hans in the third quarter.
For the Tarpons, Carlos Orduna gave the home team a 6-0 lead on a 6-yard run as Port Isabel marched 81 yards to score on its first possession.
Trailing 30-6, the Tarpons added their second score on a 2-yard QB keeper up the middle by Javier Hernandez, who then completed a pass to Martin Alvarado for the two-point conversion with 6:51 remaining in the game.
At that point, the Tarpons trailed 30-14, but Acuna’s third TD, a 27-yard sprint down the right sideline, came with 3:39 left and accounted for the final 22-point margin of victory.
During the opening quarter, it seemed as though the Tarpons might be able to play the undefeated Bulldogs on even terms. But the Tarpons’ all too often enemies — turnovers and penalties — started surfacing during the second period, enabling Orange Grove to go ahead for good.
The first of Port Isabel’s three lost fumbles allowed the Bulldogs to take over at the Tarpons’ 16-yard line early in the second period. Two plays later, the visitors were up 7-6 on Acuna’s 3-yard run with 4:54 showing on the scoreboard.
It didn’t get any better for the Tarpons on their next possession as a high snap on fourth down forced Port Isabel punter Denilson Lozano to chase down the ball, and he was tackled at his own 10-yard line. From there, Harris needed only one play to find Garcia open in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard scoring strike, making it 14-6.
Another high snap on a fourth-down Port Isabel punt went over Lozano’s head and bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety at the 9:52 mark of the third quarter to increase Orange Grove’s advantage to 16-6. By the end of the period, the Bulldogs were in command with a 30-6 lead.
The Bulldogs defeated Port Isabel 33-7 last season when the two teams played in Orange Grove.
Also Friday, Port Isabel public address announcer Gualberto Gonzalez marked his 40th year of calling the Tarpons’ home games.