By FREDDY GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — With the offense grabbing most of the headlines it’s easy to sometimes forget about the defensive aspect of the game.
When fans are busy clamoring about boasting the district leading rush offense, which by the way have 2283 yards, head coach Monty Stumbaugh is busy looking at the defense.
“Everybody thinks I’m an offensive guy but I’m a defensive guy,” said Stumbaugh. “We want to play great defense and that’s what were going to try to do. We have a tradition here in Port Isabel of having a great defense and all they (players) want to do is continue with that.”
“Our kids take great pride in our defense.”
That traditional defense coach Stumbaugh is referring to is the “Sea Wall defense”.
This season the Tarpons have only allowed 1363 total yards.
A major part of that defense is linebacker Pedro Gonzalez who leads the team with 30 tackles.
The senior has 15 solo tackles, 15 assists, one forced fumble and one interception.
“Since junior high the Tarpons have always had some good linebackers and good defensive ends,” said Gonzalez. “It feels really good playing for the Tarpons, that all we do here is play good defense and good offense.”
This Friday the Tarpons’ defense will face another stern test when they host district rival Rio Hondo.
The Bobcats are led by the district’s leading rusher Marco Garate who has 781 rushing yards this season.
Aside from Garate the Bobcats also have two mobile quarterbacks in Joshua Gonzalez and Eli Pitones.
Statistically, Rio Hondo will go into Fridays contest with the districts number one defense allowing an average of 166 yards per game.
“We haven’t seen some explosive players like them,” said Gonzalez.
“They have a good quarterback and they have a good running back but I think our defense is going to hold them.”
Port Isabel’s Sea Wall defense held Progreso to a total of 141 offensive yards last week, allowing 93 rushing yards and 48 passing yards.
“Our defense is young so were making some young team mistakes,” said Stumbaugh.
“But I’ve been real pleased with the team playing real physical and trying to do everything the best that they can.”
“I’ve been really impressed with the defense and how physical they’ve been. We’re running the football well and we’re tackling well and do all those things.