PORT ISABEL — It wasn’t pretty at times for Lopez, but the Lobos will take it against Port Isabel.
In a penalty-heavy, sloppy game that featured four combined turnovers, Lopez held off the Tarpons, 35-13, due in part to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and another great effort by the Lopez defense in a non-district game Friday night at Tarpon Stadium.
The Lobos’ junior running back Christian Gamez scored a pair of touchdowns and finished with 46 yards on the ground and Jose Echavarria added 141 yards rushing, but Lopez needed a pair of rushing touchdowns and its defense to hold Port Isabel late in the second half.
“I don’t have anything to say except thanks to my O-line,” Gamez said. “That’s all I need to say … respect to the defense, but thanks to my O-line. They did the job. It wasn’t me, it was them.”
Lopez (1-0) clung to a 21-13 lead late in the third quarter after Port Isabel junior quarterback Cesar Aguilera hit junior wide receiver Daniel Martinez on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 2:47 to go.
Lopez got touchdown runs from a pair of seniors, Johnny Ibarra — a 34-yard scamper —Angel Sandate — 10 yards — to push the lead to 35-13 with 4:52 to play.
“(Gamez) gave us some momentum,” Lopez coach Jason Starkey said. “Echavarria gave us momentum at tailback … Angel Sandate at the end of the game with fresh legs. We always talk about next man up as we had a lot (of players) go down (with injuries).”
The Lobos defense did its part, as it forced two fumbles, added a couple sacks and stopped the Port Isabel offense when it had gained momentum after its third-quarter touchdown to get within eight points.
The Tarpons (0-1) were held in check with less than 100 yards of offense. Port Isabel is learning a new offensive system under first-year head coach Jaime Infante and it showed at times when P.I. was under pressure from District 32-5A’s best defensive unit from last season. “Once again, new year, same story … our defense was outstanding,” Starkey said. “They keep us in ball games and give us a chance to win.”
Lopez struck first with 4:42 left in the opening quarter. Lobos senior quarterback Alex Ramirez hit senior receiver Alex Olguin on a 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
Port Isabel wasted no time in bouncing back when Martinez returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score just seven seconds later.
Lopez scored on its next possession with less than a minute left before the end of the first quarter. Gamez found the end zone after an 11-yard run as the Lobos retook the lead at 14-7.
The teams traded turnovers and punts in the second quarter and Lopez kept its seven-point edge heading into the break.
Gamez scored in the third quarter on a 1-yard run with 10:53 to go in the third to stretch the Lobos’ advantage to 21-7.
“It was tough and we needed every kid on Lopez’s side (Friday),” Starkey said. “Port Isabel is a team with a lot of tradition and a brand new coach … Coach Infante has done a lot of great things, he’s a great coach and they’re going to do a lot of great things.
“They fought their tail off … we just had the better night.”
Port Isabel coach Jaime Infante wasn’t available for comment following the game.
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.