By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Pace and Lopez square off tonight in the battle of two Brownsville schools, and Port Isabel hits the road again this week to face Hidalgo.
The Vikings and Lobos, each looking for their first win of the season, will battle at Sams Memorial Stadium, and the Tarpons will face the Pirates at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo. Each game begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight in non-district action in Week 3.
Pace and Lopez have struggled offensively through two games this season and each is eager to reverse that trend.
“We have to be balanced offensively, but we do have to have success running the football,” Pace coach William Deen said. “We have to be able to run the football. I think if you can establish the run, it opens up the passing game.
“Lopez’s defense moves to the football very well. They have good linebacker play. So we have to focus on our offensive line getting to the second level in order for us to be successful on the run.”
The Lobos have prepared for the different looks the Vikings’ defense will show so they can call their plays accordingly.
“Offensively, we have to recognize the multiple fronts they’re going to show on defense,” Lopez coach Jason Starkey said. “We need to eliminate the pressure that they are trying to create on our offense and we need to do that by recognizing and communicating our game plan, play in and play out. It’s going to take a lot of discipline, especially at the line of scrimmage.”
Each offense have the capabilities to put points on the board, so the play of the defense will likely change the momentum in the game for one of the teams.
Confidence is high on both squads, but especially Lopez, who hope to break a long losing streak.
“I feel like we have a great opportunity to be successful because we continue to improve in all three phases,” Starkey said. “Our team is confident and competent in regards to the game plan that we have for our opponent this week.”
For the Tarpons, they feel they are fortunate to be unbeaten. They have hurt themselves with mistakes that could cost them during the season.
“We have to eliminate our penalties, we had way too many penalties, and it’s costing us touchdowns or costing us opportunities to score,” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Port Isabel has its work cut out for it against a good Hidalgo team offensively and defensively.
“Their quarterback is athletic, he can hurt you running or throwing,” Stumbaugh said. “Offensively, they run the spread, or they’ll get two tight ends and run a little smashmouth at you. Defensively, they have some size up front, a quick secondary. They’re playing pretty good on defense (this season).
“They have the best of both worlds, so to speak. We expect a very tough football game.”
The Tarpons have let opportunities slip through their fingers, something Stumbaugh wants to get fixed before it becomes a problem.
“In the two games, we’ve had the possibility to score five touchdowns or had scoring opportunities, and either turned it over or had penalties. Those type of things you can’t do,” he said. “If you’re fortunate enough to make the playoffs, those are the types of things that will get you knocked out quick and could get you knocked out of the district race quick, too.
“We just have to do a better job of taking care of the football.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.