By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Port Isabel and St. Joseph Academy have crossed paths before at this similar junction.
Once again, the unbeaten teams face off with each hoping to continue an unblemished season as the Bloodhounds play host to the Tarpons in The Brownsville Herald’s Game of the Week at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night at Canales Field in Brownsville.
The last time the two squads met with perfect records was 2014. Both teams were 4-0 that season before Port Isabel claimed a 44-21 home victory. Last year, the Bloodhounds handed the Tarpons their first loss of the season, a 42-27 setback.
While history can’t predict what happens on the field, an epic battle between the St. Joseph offense and the Port Isabel defense could play out.
The Bloodhounds boast an average of 529 yard and nearly 47 points per game. Led by junior quarterback Kai Money, who has thrown for 583 yards and seven touchdowns to go with 617 rushing yards and another seven scores.
It won’t be easy, but Port Isabel is ready for the challenge.
“St. Joseph is pretty explosive,” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “We’re going to have to play great defense. We have to try and slow them down somehow.”
The Tarpons’ defense has allowed just 150 yards and 12 points per game. Port Isabel’s stout unit already has 10 sacks, seven interceptions and four forced fumbles against its opponents. SJA will have to be patient with the ball and will look to put the Tarpons on their heels with an up-tempo style.
“They have a good defense, but we have a lot of weapons on offense … they wear on you,” St. Joseph coach Tino Villarreal said. “We have to put pressure on them for four quarters. If we can do that, we feel like they’re going to give at some point, (and) eventually make a mistake.”
That’s not to say the other side of the ball for either team is shabby. Port Isabel is producing 427 yards and 30 points per game, and the majority come from its powerful ground attack. Led by quarterback Omar Silva, who returned from a two-game injury absence last week, ran wild against La Feria, racking up 441 yards and three touchdowns in a victory to earn 2016 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week honors for Class 4A. Stumbaugh hopes Silva’s tear can continue on Friday.
“Our offense has to move the football and not turn it over,” he said. “Not get penalties at the wrong time and hopefully keep (their offense) off the field.”
Likewise on the defensive side for St. Joseph. The unit has allowed less than 23 points per game this season due to better initial pressure with its front four, including Conner Pace and Ricky Miner.
“We had to use some different looks and blitz a little bit more than we’re used to,” Villarreal said. “We’ve thrown the offense off with different fronts and it’s been working for us.”
It should be a battle on both sides of the ball for each team. But anything can happen and usually does when these teams square off.
“We want to get a win,” Stumbaugh said. “That would be great going into district with some momentum. We played better (last week) and we took a step forward … we have to keep getting better every week.”
It may be two different schools of thought when it comes to football, but both programs are prepared and ready for the challenge.
“It’s old-school, smashmouth football versus the new-school, fast-tempo,” Villarreal said. “We’re ready for them and I’m sure they’re ready for us.”
With a top-tier offense (St. Joseph) and a stingy defense (Port Isabel) going head-to-head, it seems whichever unit takes advantage of the most opportunities will come out victorious. But this game might play out differently, with either the Bloodhounds’ defense rising to the occasion or the Tarpons’ offense making the most of its chances. PREDICTION: St. Joseph 34, Port Isabel 33
Thursday’s Game
District 32-5A
PORTER AT LOPEZ
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Porter (0-3, 0-0); Lopez (2-1, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Porter had a bye last week, but lost to McAllen Rowe 42-9 in Week 3. … The Cowboys won the Battle of Southmost last season 21-16. … Porter continues to be a ground and pound offense, getting its offense from its rushing attack. Johnathan Gonzalez leads the way with 364 yards and a pair of touchdowns. … The Cowboys’ defense allows 365 yards and nearly 33 points per game. … Lopez also had a bye week that followed a 44-0 win over PSJA Memorial in Week 3. … The Lobos have a stingy defense, it has allowed just 196 yards and 10 points per game and is the top unit in the district. … The Lopez offense is led by running back Ivan Olivo, who has amassed 261 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. … If this wasn’t enough of a rivalry game already, the Porter defensive coordinator was in the same position at Lopez last season. … The Lobos’ defense has been tough this season and Porter’s offense has its work cut out.
PREDICTION: Lopez 35, Porter 20
— Andrew Crum
Friday’s Games
District 32-6A
SAN BENITO AT LOS FRESNOS
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: San Benito (3-0, 0-0); Los Fresnos (2-1, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Friday marks this season’s District 32-6A opener for both teams as undefeated San Benito has been a solid No. 1 in the RGVSports.com rankings for several weeks now. Los Fresnos was No. 2 in the rankings until the Falcons lost at home to McAllen Memorial 32-30 last Friday. The Falcons now are ranked No. 4 in the Valley … While Los Fresnos suffered its first loss of the season last Friday, San Benito had an open date last week … This will be the third time for the two teams to meet in 32-6A competition. In their two previous 32-6A matchups, Los Fresnos won 14-7 in 2015 and San Benito triumphed 17-14 in 2014 … Prior to that, the Falcons and Greyhounds opened the season against one another with non-district matchups in 2013 and 2012 as Los Fresnos won 24-16 in 2013 and San Benito prevailed 16-7 in 2012 … The Falcons are sparked offensively by QB Mark Mata, who has rushed for 594 yards and five TDs while passing for 295 yards and five scores. RB John Salazar enjoyed a breakout game last week for the Falcons by rushing 15 times for 137 yards and three TDs. Freshman WR Nico Valencia is Mata’s favorite target as he has 12 receptions for 123 yards and three TDs … QB Erick Retta leads the Greyhounds with 738 yards passing with nine TDs. He’s also rushed for 226 yards and four TDs. Also for San Benito, RB Tyron Harper has rushed for 212 yards with three TDs. The Greyhounds’ top pass catcher is WR Isaiah Trevino with 13 receptions for 266 yards and five TDs … 32-6A competition continues next week as Los Fresnos is at Harlingen South and San Benito is at home against Weslaco East.
PREDICTION: San Benito 35, Los Fresnos 31
— Roy Hess
District 32-5A
BROWNSVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL AT PACE
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Brownsville Veterans (2-1, 0-0); Pace (0-3, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers and Pace Vikings meet for the first time since 2013 in both teams’ District 32-5A opener … The Chargers won both prior meetings with Pace in 2012 and 2013 … Brownsville Veterans comes off a bye week with its only loss coming against Edinburg Vela on the road during Week 2 (35-10) … Junior athlete Gustavo Vazquez is the Chargers’ offensive catalyst. He has 407 rushing yards, 138 receiving yards and six total touchdowns this season, as well as 95 passing yards … Brownsville Veterans is second among 32-5A teams in offensive yards per game, trailing Edcouch-Elsa with 335 yards per game … The Vikings are still searching for their first win after a heartbreaking 21-14 loss to La Joya Palmview last week … Senior quarterback Randy Aguilar has thrown for 651 yards this season, good for second among 32-5A’s passers. He’s also thrown for two touchdowns and ran for three more … Pace likes to get the ball in the hands of its best offensive weapon, WR/RB Gabriel Zapata. The junior has 21 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns this season
PREDICTION: Brownsville Veterans 35, Pace 14
— Joshua McKinney
Saturday’s Game
District 32-6A
RIVERA AT HANNA
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Sams Memorial Stadium
RECORDS: Rivera (1-2, 0-0); Hanna (1-2, 0-0)
GAME NOTES: Rivera had a bye in Week 4 and lost to PSJA High 50-17 in Week 3. … The Raiders’ offense has racked up 559 yards on the ground, including 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns from running back Jesus Muniz. Nicholas Blanco and Oscar Gonzalez have split time under centter and have combined for nearly 300 yards and a couple scores through the air. … The Rivera defense has allowed 322 yards and 33 points per game on the season. … Hanna also had a bye last week and lost to Mission High 42-21 in Week 3. … The Golden Eagles’ offense is led by running back Jaime Gonzalez, who has already racked up 509 yards and five touchdowns this season. … The Hanna defense has allowed 318 yards and 32 points per game. … On paper, the matchup is pretty even, but the game will be determined by which defense can force the opponent’s offense into mistakes and takeaways. And it still might be a close game too.
PREDICTION: Hanna 21, Rivera 17
— Andrew Crum