Don’t let Edcouch-Elsa’s 1-3 record fool you.
After shutting out Donna in Week 0, the reigning District 16-5A Champions have gone on a three-game losing skid entering its contest vs. Port Isabel (2-2) this Friday.
For a storied program like E-E, a losing record could surely be cause for panic. But fourth-year head coach Victor Cardenas is looking at the bigger picture.
“[The] boys understand that we went against some of the top teams in the valley,” Cardenas told Port Isabel Times, “We took our losses like champions to build for future success… it’s all part of the process.”
And some of the top teams they were.
In the last three weeks, Edcouch-Elsa has faced perennial valley powerhouses Mcallen High, Mission Veterans, and Edinburg High. The three aforementioned ballclubs have a combined season record of 9-3, with all their losses coming at the hands of undefeated teams.
Of course, there are benefits to playing fierce competition. Coach Cardenas said he’s seen the Yellowjackets mature quickly as a result of the tough non-district schedule.
“They have grown up fast,” Cardenas said about his team, “we’ve seen a lot of growth [along] our offensive and defensive line.”
In addition, the Tarpons may have their hands full vs. Edcouch-Elsa’s skill players. Freshmen WR Mason Villalpando (14 rec, 102 yards) has quickly burst on to the Texas high school football scene, while senior utility player John Amaya (6 rec, 156 yards, 2TD) is proving to be a big-play threat at wideout.
In the backfield, running back Ayden Mercado (60 carries, 205 yards, 3TD) has shown flashes of greatness at times, while junior quarterback Jason Pena (32/65, 300 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT) is becoming more comfortable in the pocket by the week.
But Coach Cardenas is aware of the challenge Port Isabel presents, especially in the trenches. “Both our units will have to be at their best in order to have success [in both] establishing the run, and defending [against] P.I.’s run game.” he said.
Speaking of the Tarpon’s rushing attack, it has been on fire lately. P.I.’s offense has averaged over 500 yards per game the last two weeks, almost exclusively on the ground. The offense features a bevy of capable running backs, but none have been more productive than Luis Ramos (47 carries, 590 yards, 8 TDs).
Ramos, coming off a 265 yard, four-touchdown performance vs. Hidalgo last week, has lit up the scoreboard and been quite literally untouchable on the field so far this season. He’s part of a running back committee that through four games has produced five different 100+ yards rushers.
After a slow start to the season, Port Isabel has picked up steam and gained confidence, handily beating their last two opponents by a combined score of 124-13. The young Tarpons continue to improve, but the Yellowjackets are no strangers to tough ballclubs.
E-E and P.I. are two of the most tradition-rich programs in South Texas. The teams have combined for 80 district championships and produced numerous deep playoff runs throughout history.
Both programs are also home to a couple of Rio Grande Valley coaching legends who have been formally commemorated by their school districts.
In 2013, PI-ISD dedicated the Tarpons halftime facility to longtime Port Isabel coach, Eliseo Villareal. He was recognized for his contributions to the youth of Port Isabel as a coach, teacher, and mentor between the 1970s-1990s. He is known as the creator of Port Isabel’s “Seawall Defense.”
A similar achievement was awarded in Edcouch-Elsa earlier this year to former head coach, Javier Gutierrez. A member of E-E’s 1959 district championship football team, Gutierrez became head football coach in 1972 and quickly helped establish the YellowJackets as one of South Texas’ most respected programs. in February 2025 his name was commemorated on the field house at Edcouch Elsa Football Stadium.
He is also credited with coining the team’s vaunted nickname, “La Maquina Amarilla.”
“He was a good coach and even better man.” Coach Cardenas said about Gutierrez, “He has left his imprint in Edcouch-Elsa Football.”
The Yellowjackets and Tarpons are not unfamiliar opponents. E-E leads the all-time series record, 10-8, but PI has won the last three meetings.
This Friday, the teams clash once again, looking to etch their own names into the storied programs’ histories. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm at Edcouch-Elsa.
*All stats reported are unofficial. Please feel free to email Jonathan Delgado at johnslawnstx@gmail.com with any comments, questions, or corrections.
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