MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
The Port Isabel Tarpons are in the playoffs once again and set to take on the Sinton Pirates in Class 4A Division II bi-district playoffs.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. tonight at Corpus Christi’s Buc Stadium.
The Tarpons enter tonight’s matchup as the No. 3 seed out of District 16-4A Division II, while the Pirates come in as the No. 2 seed out of 15-4A DII.
Tonight’s winner will face either 14-4A DII’s Devine or 13-4A DII’s Llano in the area round.
Port Isabel (3-6) comes into the matchup on a down note, losing its last two games to Raymondville and Rio Hondo by a combined score of 90-22.
Sinton (5-5) has won four straight games after losing its district opener to champion Rockport-Fulton and is averaging 43 points per game during the past month.
Port Isabel will lean on its running game as it has all season, starting with Brayan Medina.
Medina finished the regular season with 1,095 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just eight games this season. As a team, the Tarpons have posted 1, 888 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
Junior quarterback Joey Krieghbaum has had a strong district season and finished the regular season with 1,176 yards passing and another 216 rushing to go with 20 total touchdowns.
Moving the ball might prove tough for the Tarpons as the Pirates have recorded 19 interceptions and recovered 10 fumbles this season.
Port Isabel’s defense, meanwhile, has recorded six interceptions and recovered two fumbles.
Sinton’s attack focuses on the quarterback-running back combo of Rene and Rylan Galvan.
Under center, Rene Galvan has similar numbers to Krieghbaum, passing for 1,055 yards and rushing for 431 more with 21 total touchdowns.
Rylan Galvan leads the ground game for the Pirates, rushing for 1,042 yards and 13 touchdowns.