RAYMONDVILLE — With only 22 seconds left in the game, Raymondville quarterback Diego Gutierrez reared back and found receiver Bryen Robles for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Bearkats a 20-17 victory over the Port Isabel Tarpons in a District 16-4A DII game Friday at Burnett Stadium in Raymondville.
“Diego was incredible,” Raymondville head coach Frank Cantu said. “He went from starting, to helping out, to playing defense … defensive end, outside linebacker, whatever we asked of that guy. His colors came out tonight, stayed composed and got the job done.”
The Bearkats were coming off a bye after playing Ingelside and Sinton, two Coastal Bend teams. Coming into the game, Raymondville was 2-4.
“We put up a fight against Sinton, played Hidalgo,” Cantu said. “We played some of these teams that were a little bit better than us at times, but we never gave up. We stuck it out. We gave up some points but did not give up a lot of yards. Defensively, that has been the mainstay of our team, but I am so proud of the offense, they came back, battled and got it done in the last few seconds.
Port Isabel quarterback Rodolfo Barrera gave the Tarpons the lead late in the fourth quarter when he scored a rushing touchdown from 6 yards out. The quarterback broke two tackles to find the corner of the end zone.
The touchdown gave the Tarpons a 17-13 lead with 3:41 left in the game.
Raymondville’s Hunter Posas gave his team a chance to score in the fourth quarter. The senior leveled a Tarpons ball carrier, forcing a fumble, and recovered it at the Port Isabel 39.
Posas scored a touchdown, his second of the night, from 1 yard away to give the Bearkats a 13-10 lead.
The Tarpons took the lead before halftime with freshman tailback Luis Ramos from 6 yards out. Ramos’ kick return set up Port Isabel with great field position near midfield.
Posas capped a 67-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put the Bearkats up 6-3. The senior had 78 rushing yards during the first half.
Port Isabel’ Joaquin Leon put the Tarpons on the board first with a 22-yard field goal.
The Tarpons’ defense had three takeaways in the first half.
The Bearkats (3-4, 1-0) will return to action against Grulla at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Burnett Stadium in Raymondville. The Tarpons will look to bounce back against Bishop at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tarpon Stadium.