Both sides looked eager to begin the game as the mood on the field was anything but preseason.
The Tarpons dominated the controlled portion of the game 3-0 as both teams agreed to go semi-live and take the ball at the 30-yard line.
“I liked our effort and I think we got after it,” said Port Isabel head coach Monty Stumbaugh. “We have to play smarter than we did. We can’t be pushing and shoving. We got a long ways to go but I think we’ll get there eventually.”
After going three-and-out for the first two possessions, the Tarpons got in the end zone first behind a strong running game. Stephen Martinez was able to punch it in from 4 yards out to cap off the drive.
Two possessions later, the Tarpons running attack would do it again, only this time it was Dillion Athans who ran it in from 1 yard out.
But Port Isabel wasn’t done yet as Martinez once again scored from 5 yards out to end the controlled portion of the game.
After a brief intermission the teams decided to go live for the remaining two quarters, but the outcome was the same as Port Isabel’s Seawall Defense proved that although they graduated 28 players from last year’s squad, this team is still aggressive.
“Our defense did well but got tired in the end,” said Stumbaugh. “Defensively we played great but we’ve got a long way to go. We did a good job in stopping them (Donna North).”
Behind the strong running game, Port Isabel moved the ball with ease as they went from their own 30-yard line and traveled 45 yards down to the Chiefs’ 25 in eight plays. However, it all ended with a fumble and a PI turnover.
With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Martinez dropped the pitch but was able to recover it and blast through the Donna North defense on his way to a 60-yard touchdown run to give the Tarpons a 7-0 lead.
With the ball on their own 37 yard line, the Tarpons defense was at it again as it pressured the Chiefs’ quarterback into throwing an errant pass that was intercepted by PI’s John Rey Martinez and returned 63 yards for the pick-six with 9:29 remaining on the clock.
After two punts and an interception, the Chiefs were able to break through Port Isabel’s defense as they marched down the field behind precision passing where Dominic Ochoa was able to punch it in from the 3 with 19 seconds left in the game to make the make the score 14-7.
This season the Tarpons will call District 16-4A Division II home after the UIL realignment placed them alongside Raymondville, Rio Hondo, Progresso, Corpus Christi West Oso and Orange Groove.