PORT ISABEL — It was the perfect play call to end an insane comeback, but the receiver bobbled the ball on multiple attempts and the ball fell to the ground, ending a must watch game to begin the season.
The play, a running back pass, executed to perfection. Just a bit unlucky on the day. If caught, it would have resulted in extraordinary comeback by the Lyford Bulldogs in overtime, but it was Port Isabel’s day in a wild 41-40 non-district meeting.
Port Isabel head coach Tony Villarreal praised his coaching staff and players for not folding at the end. It is their win tonight for the work they have put in since the beginning of August, Villarreal said.
“We put in a session called the championship session,” Villarreal said. “It is a concept of out of the Navy SEALs, these guys run 12 gashers, then we line up and we do double-overtime. The concept is to be comfortable being uncomfortable, that is our motto.”
After a touchdown by Tarpons running back Andrew Leblanc put Port Isabel up 34-12, the game looked destined to be over.
Senior quarterback Osmar Martinez came into the game after not starting because of an ankle injury. The quarterback helped orchestrate the comeback with three touchdowns, two on the ground and one in the air, turning the game on its head in a little over six minutes.
“I like that fight that I saw in my dogs today,” Lyford coach Gerry Jauregui said. “We were down 34-12 with nine minutes left, we got that first touchdown and we were rolling after that. I am extremely proud of that fight they showed at the end.”
Lyford’s opening series looked messy, it is the first drive of a long season and the Bulldogs looked like they would need to punt the ball. Facing a long third down, the Bulldogs caught the Tarpons defense sleeping on a brilliantly designed screen play.
Backup quarter Aiden Olivas-Romo dropped it down to senior playmaker Oscar Martinez. The track star went untouched for the 77-yard touchdown, pumping up everyone on the Lyford sideline in the process.
Lyford was rolling on their next drive, a big catch by junior receiver David Caballero set up the Bulldogs at the 2-yard line, but a penalty pushed them off the goal line. The Tarpons buckled down on fourth down after senior Adrian Garcia broke up a pass in the endzone.
The Tarpons went up 7-6 after a 68-yard touchdown run by quarterback Rodolfo Barrera, the quarterback went down multiple times with cramps, as well as plenty of players on both teams due to the humidity.
“Today was rough, we started a little and ended a little rough,” Barrera said. “But in mid-game we picked it up and did what we needed to do.”
The Bulldogs responded with big chunk plays from Olivas-Romo and Martinez. Romo started ahead of quarterback Osmar Martinez, who was nursing that ankle injury. Romo found Diego Rosas on the sideline, Rosas still had work to do and weaved his way into the endzone, putting the Bulldogs back up 12-7.
Touchdowns by Leblanc, Tristian Garcia and Cross Martinez put the Tarpons ahead 34-12 before Lyford’s tremendous comeback.
“They [Lyford] were an excellent ball club and they had some big play people,” Villarreal said. “Our kids never gave up because of those championship sessions. They focused, they played, they got beat and they never gave up. It was not pretty, but we got it done.”