When the Porter Cowboys play “host” to the Lopez Lobos tonight at Sams Memorial Stadium, it will mark the 21st installment of the Battle of Southmost.
Lopez (1-2, 0-2) leads the series 11-9 after winning the last two meetings over Porter (1-2, 0-2), but that mark means little with each team coming in having lost its first two District 16-5A Division I matchups.
So tonight’s game means more than just bragging rights in a rivalry, it means avoiding an 0-3 hole.
“There is a lot of hoopla around this game, but what we see is the other team, the football field and us,” Lopez coach Armando Gutierrez said. “We definitely dug ourselves into a hole, but like I told our kids, there’s still a lot of season left and every game is important. (Today) is crucial for us as far as getting momentum back and getting this thing swinging in the right direction.”
Porter coach Carlos Uresti echoes the sentiment and said 0-3 is just not an option with games against Mission Veterans Memorial and Brownsville Veterans Memorial in the following two weeks.
“I think we know that this a big game for us,” he said. “I’m not looking forward, but I know we still have up-and-coming teams like Mission Veterans next week, so we can’t afford to go in there with an 0-3 district record and still try to fight for the playoff spot at the end.”
Lopez comes in after a pair of turnover-laden performances.
Against Rio Grande City, the Lobos received big nights on the ground from Rafael Campos and Christian Gamez, who combined for 187 yards and one score.
It was ultimately the four fumbles, including one on a potential game-winning drive in the red zone with seconds to play, that cost Lopez the game.
The Lobos turned the ball over seven times in two losses, leading to a heavy focus on ball security this week.
“I think we worked on, needless to say, a lot of security drills,” Gutierrez said. “If it was something like a physical problem or a mental problem, it’s more about having those things happen in crucial moments. We have to do a better job to make sure we control the ball to control the game the way we usually do. We hold on to the ball and we’re 1-1 in district and might be 3-0 overall.”
Porter has run the ball well, with sophomore quarterback Kevin Garcia and running back Ulises Guzman leading the way.
Uresti is preparing for a physical matchup that will be won up front, where Lopez has shown to be aggressive on each side of the ball.
“I think (Lopez is) beginning to run the ball a little more as of late,” Uresti said. “Everybody knows we like to run the ball and establish the line of scrimmage. Lopez defensively likes to bring a lot of pressure, and they are physical in the trenches. This game will be won in the trenches on both sides of the ball. On offense for us and defensively for Lopez.
“You flip it around, they are going to control the line of scrimmage to move the ball against us.”
Gutierrez also said he’s expecting to grind it out against the Cowboys, who he believes are on the rise despite two straight losses.
“This game is always going to be a grind, and we’re both itching for the same thing,” Gutierrez said. “It makes the game even better for everyone around us. The hoopla is the hoopla, but them, us and the field is what we’re looking forward to. Porter is on the rise and a great team. They are a few plays and maybe even a year away from being really good.
“We understand that and we understand they will be hungry … we’re going to go out and let the chips lie where they may.”