PHARR — Only up by one point late in the fourth quarter and with the ball on their own 39-yard line, the Port Isabel Tarpons elected to go for it on fourth down.
The gamble paid off, and Port Isabel ran out the clock for a 13-12 victory.
“We believe in our guys,” Tarpons head coach Tony Villarreal said. “We prepare for fourth down, we thrive on that. Again, back to the championship sessions, you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. When it is the worst, you have to be at your best. We always prepare for that fourth down play.”
Port Isabel (3-0) managed the clock behind its strong running game and the defense shut out the Valley View Tigers (0-3) in the second half to overcome being down 12-6 at the half.
A big stop on fourth down gave the Tigers hope with only four minutes left in the fourth quarter, but an interception by Port Isabel defensive back Robert Medina gave the ball back to the Tarpons.
Port Isabel would not give the ball back.
Villarreal praised the defense again for the performance. The Tarpons coach was happy with the performance despite a couple of plays that provided the Tigers with their scoring opportunities he said.
Port Isabel capped off the opening drive of the second half with a short touchdown run. The Tarpons used multiple ball carriers to move the ball down to the 1-yard line.
Valley View went ahead in the first half with two touchdown runs. The first was by Zac Tollet from 2 yards, and it was set up by a 60-yard kick return from Daniel Negrete.
The Tigers scored again before the half when Bryan Acosta scored from the 10. Completions by quarterback Jayden Rosillo moved the ball in the red zone before Acosta finished the drive.
Port Isabel found the scoreboard after forcing Valley View to punt on its first possession. Tarpons back Tristian Garcia punched it in at the goal line, putting the Tarpons ahead 6-0.
Valley View will be at home again next week, they take on Sharyland Pioneer at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Port Isabel will have their biggest test of the season against Brownsville Veterans Memorial at 7:30 p.m Friday in Brownsville.