By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — The Port Isabel Tarpons continued their winning ways against the Progreso Red Ants on Friday at Tarpon Stadium.
According to Tarponfever.net, Port Isabel held a 30-0 all-time edge in its football series with Progreso going into Friday’s District 16-4A Division II game.
Make that 31-0.
The Tarpons (7-1, 2-1 district) scored on their first five possessions to build a 35-0 first-half lead en route to a 35-8 triumph over the Red Ants (1-6, 0-3).
Omar Silva, the Tarpons’ standout senior running back/quarterback, scored the first four times he carried the ball. His touchdown runs came on plays of 8, 28, 5 and 11 yards. Also in the first half, Silva lined up at QB and tossed a short pass to wide receiver Dante Damato, who took off down the sideline to complete a 56-yard scoring play.
It was 28-0 after one quarter and 35-0 at intermission. Progreso scored with three seconds left in the game to avoid a shutout.
“We wanted to come out, execute and take care of business,” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “We did that in the first half. We just wanted to get out of here healthy. We did what we wanted to do by coming out and taking care of business.
“Progreso’s kids played hard,” he added. “Their team is a little short on numbers, but they’re not short on heart. They played extremely hard. We needed to take care of business to beat them, and we did.”
The Tarpons missed two scoring opportunities in the second half.
They marched to the Progreso 8-yard line in the third quarter before an interception by the Red Ants’ Ray Garcia just outside the end zone ended the drive. Also, the Tarpons missed a 19-yard field-goal attempt midway through the fourth period.
A 5-yard run by Justin Sifuentes with three seconds remaining put Progreso on the scoreboard. Quarterback Joshua San Roman passed to Garcia for the two-point conversion, accounting for the final score.
Silva played sparingly in the second half as Port Isabel gave its stable of running backs an opportunity to get on the field. Silva led all rushers in the game with 11 carries for 83 yards. Silva topped the 1,000-yard rushing plateau last week with a 305-yard, four-TD effort against Orange Grove.
Friday’s performance now gives him 15 rushing TDs on the season.
“Omar has done a great job,” Tarpons offensive coordinator Al Senteno said. “He was banged up and injured earlier in the season. Now that he’s healthy, he’s doing very well. Our line is doing a good job and Omar knows how to follow their blocks. Omar has great vision and speed. Our receivers are blocking, too, and even the quarterback is blocking for him, so we’re all on the same page.
“I’m very proud of Omar,” Senteno added. “He’s giving us 100 percent every time. He’s one of the best I’ve ever coached.”
When Port Isabel and Progreso played last year at Tarpon Stadium, the Tarpons won 33-13.
District action continues next Friday for both teams as the Tarpons play host to Raymondville and the Red Ants will be at home against West Oso.
A win against the Bearkats will clinch a playoff spot for the Tarpons.