By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — There is a fundamental difference between the football programs at Port Isabel and Donna North.
The Tarpons boast a well-established winning tradition, and to prove it, there’s a big sign adjacent to their football field listing every season Port Isabel has advanced to the playoffs from the 1950s to the present, including the years 1981, 1994 and 2003 when the Tarpons reached the state semifinals.
Conversely, Donna North is playing football for only the third year and has yet to reach the postseason. In their two previous seasons, the Chiefs have won only once. The Chiefs see themselves as a team on the verge of building a program that could mirror the success the Tarpons have experienced.
Yet, the past aside, Port Isabel and Donna North enter the 2016 campaign on fairly equal footing as evidenced by Friday’s scrimmage at Tarpon Stadium.
Overall, it was a 4-3 victory for Port Isabel. The Tarpons emerged from the controlled portion of the scrimmage with a 3-2 advantage before each team scored once during 15 minutes of game-situation action.
It was a hot, sun-baked outing that produced some take-away positives for each ballclub.
“We’re trying to make them better and they’re trying to make us better (by playing this scrimmage),” said first-year Donna North coach Matthew Rokovich, whose Chiefs went 1-9 last season. “The good thing is this is (really only) practice — just practicing against someone other than yourself.
“It was two class programs out there competing hard and trying to get better,” Rokovich added. “The hitting was all clean, and that’s what you like to see. Playing Port Isabel helps us become a better team and I hope we help make them a better team.”
The Tarpons scored two of their four touchdowns on their opening possession of the controlled portion of the scrimmage. On just their seventh play, the Tarpons reached the end zone when running back/quarterback Omar Silva bolted around left end and sprinted 67 yards down the sideline before crossing the goal line.
Eight plays later, still during the Tarpons’ initial possession, Silva caught a short pass from quarterback Cesar Aguilera and weaved his way downfield for 39 yards before reaching the end zone. The TD gave the Tarpons a 2-0 edge.
After a halftime break, the Chiefs tallied their initial TD on the 14th play of their third possession. Chiefs QB Alex Saenz found Christian Bustos wide open in the end zone for a 7-yard scoring strike.
Port Isabel quickly responded by going ahead 3-1 on its fourth possession as Silva darted 17 yards off left tackle to the end zone.
“We were challenged and we responded (by scoring that third TD),” said Tarpons coach Monte Stumbaugh, whose team is coming off a 6-4 playoff season. “I liked what I saw and the effort our guys gave. We just have to continue getting better every week. Overall, I liked what I saw.”
As the controlled portion of the scrimmage neared an end, the Chiefs added their second TD when Saenz went in on a 2-yard keeper. The score came on the 10th play of Donna North’s fourth possession.
Once in the 15-minute game-situation action, Port Isabel got the ball first and steadily marched downfield behind its reliable rushing attack. Silva again crossed the goal line for his fourth TD on a 6-yard burst off right guard. The extra point was successful with 9:41 showing on the scoreboard.
After recovering a Port Isabel fumble at the Tarpons’ 23 with 49 seconds remaining, the Chiefs came within one score again. Saenz fired a 15-yard TD pass to Corey Harrison with six seconds to go. The Chiefs’ extra point found the mark.
Led by Chris Bode and John Ray Martinez, the Tarpons’ defense recorded four sacks during the game.
“Our guys made some great plays on defense,” Stumbaugh said.
Scrimmage action continues for both teams next Friday as Port Isabel visits Mercedes and Donna North plays host to Weslaco East at Bennie LaPrade Stadium.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess