By Adam Kujawski
Staff Writer
Eager to maintain its unblemished record, Port Isabel looks for its third win of the season when the Tarpons play host to Hidalgo at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last week, Port Isabel improved to 2-0 behind a 36-27 defeat of Rio Grande City.
Though his team committed several penalties, Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh thought his team played well overall.
“I liked the physical play from our defense,” he said. “I also thought the offensive line really came off the ball well.”
Stumbaugh also gave a good amount of credit to the offensive line for being the catalyst that gives way to the Tarpons’ dominant rushing attack. P.I. has averaged nearly 330 yards per game on the ground, including 348 yards from three players that went over the century mark last week.
“We’re blessed with great backs,” he said. “We’re not going to get three 100-yard rushers every week but it’s a great thing to have.”
The rushing attack to which he refers is made up of running backs J.J. Gonzalez and Alex De Los Santos, and quarterback Trey Mock. Each member of the trio is ranked in the top six in the district in rushing yards, and together they average almost 9 yards per carry.
Port Isabel has been solid defensively, too, allowing only 18 points per game. The Tarpons’ defense will need to hold strong, though, if P.I. is going to stop Hidalgo’s versatile offense.
The Pirates scored 47 points in a rout of Progreso last week, and Stumbaugh knows his team will need to be on the lookout for short passes and screen plays.
“They run a lot of quick slants and jailbreaks,” he said. “They executed those well last week against Progresso.”
Hidalgo coach Tahi Jones said his defense played quite well against Progreso.
“I was impressed with the way our defense ran to the ball last week,” he said.
This ferocity certainly will be necessary if the Pirates intend to stop Port Isabel’s ground game. Jones knows the task will be difficult and said the biggest challenge will be “matching them point for point.”
Both teams will play out-of-district opponents again next week, as Port Isabel travels to Valley View on Sept. 19 and Hidalgo plays host to Rio Hondo the same night.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.