By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
It’s business pretty much as usual for the Port Isabel Tarpons during their first week of football workouts.
The Tarpons have been working out from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily this week except for Friday, when they took photos in the gym at 9 a.m. and practiced in pads later in the day. Between 90 and 100 athletes have been on hand for workouts, said Tarpons coach Monty Stumbaugh, who is beginning his 15th season directing the team.
“It’s going fine,” Stumbaugh said of the opening week of practice. “I’m pleased with our progress.
“We’re concentrating on taking care of the ball and doing the little things you need to do to be successful. Details are important,” he added. “We’re focusing on our base stuff and conditioning. Most of them are in pretty good shape, but some are not.
“We’re concerned with every position and seeing who we’re going to have playing there, so it’s everything (regarding offense, defense and special teams), really.”
Four starters are back on offense and five return on defense from last year’s 7-4 squad that ended its season with a 52-22 loss to powerhouse Sinton in the bi-district round of the Class 4A Division II playoffs.
At quarterback, senior Michael Green and juniors Omar Silva and Carlos Orduna are vying for the starting job, and there’s also competition to see who will get the nod in the offensive line, where the Tarpons must replace four starters due to graduation.
“What I like that I see is everyone is showing up for practice,” said Juan Mireles, a senior left guard and defensive tackle who is a two-year starter. “We want it. Right now, we just want to get better.”
Actually, the Tarpons lost their final three games of the 2014 season and finished fourth in District 16-4A Division II, and that appears to be a big motivation for them in the coming campaign.
“We had a disappointing finish, and we really want to do better this year,” said Stephen Martinez, a two-way tackle who is starting for the first time this season as a senior. “We’d all like to have a better season and have a good run in the playoffs.
“So far it’s looking good,” he added.
It’s a matter of the coaches doing better along with the players, Stumbaugh said.
“We have to do a better job of finishing (games),” he said. “Fourth place in district is not acceptable. We’ve all got to do better.
“So far, I’m real pleased with the effort and the good attitude I’m seeing,” Stumbaugh added. “We’re trying to get better every day.”
The Tarpons play their first scrimmage at 10 a.m. next Friday at Donna North. On Aug. 21, they’ll play host to Mercedes for their second scrimmage. Port Isabel opens the season Aug. 28 at home against Grulla.
Everyone appears focused upon bringing the Tarpons back to prominence in the Rio Grande Valley, especially the seniors.
“Football is my favorite sport, and I’m going to give it my all because this is my last year,” Martinez said.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected] . On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.