Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
And hungrier.
That’s how Port Isabel looked on Thursday night as they kicked off the 2026 preseason in a scrimmage vs. the St. Joe Bloodhounds.
P.I outscored an explosive SJA squad in both phases of the matchup, winning the controlled portion 3 touchdowns to 2, then securing a victory in the live half of play by a score of 7-0.
Some familiar faces, along with a bevy of new playmakers, put on a show for the Tarpon faithful in attendance – and they did so by Land, Air, and Sea[wall].
The tidal wave offense scored on four of its first five possessions and racked up over 370 yards while showing a more balanced approach. Bryan Ramirez and Jesus Ramos each rushed for a touchdown, and senior Quarterback Greyson Estes added two scores through the air, hauled in by Brian Cienfuegos and Logan Bennett.
The Port Isabel defense recorded four sacks and held the Bloodhounds rushing attack to only 31 yards on 24 attempts, although they did allow two passing TD’s.
P.I. would give up a score on St. Joe’s opening drive – a 14-play series that saw opposing coaches nearly in fisticuffs over a dicey penalty call in the red zone (they would hug and make up after).
That flag set up the Bloodhounds with a First-&-goal, which they capitalized on the next play with a 4-yard completion to the endzone, giving them an early 1-0 lead over P.I.
After going three-and out to start their first series, the Tarpon offense regrouped and staged a four-play touchdown drive earmarked by a sweet 36-yard pass-and catch from Estes to his wideout brother, Preston Estes. The former free safety followed that up with a throw on the run to RB Cienfuegos for a 25-yard touchdown to cap the series.
Port Isabel marched down the field again on its next possession behind the efforts of multiple Tarpons. Angel Dominguez (6 rush, 42 yards) and Jesus Ramos (3 rush, 42 yards, 1 TD) were let loose in the run game, while Eli Alvarez and Logan Bennet each tacked on receptions.
Bennett would seal the drive with a 20-yard touchdown grab before the teams took a quick intermission. Score: 2-1 Tarpons
St. Joe answered back on their next possession, when a busted coverage by the P.I. Secondary left a Bloodhound receiver wide open down the right hash for a 70-yard walk-in touchdown. That evened up the score at 2-2.
The Tarpons would close out the controlled portion of the scrimmage with an 11-play statement drive, picking up four first downs and spreading the rock between six different ball carriers on their way to another touchdown.
This series did a great job of showcasing the unique running styles of RB’s Michael Finoña, Armani Reyna, Bryan Ramirez, and Ivan Medina.
Alvaro Rocha also added an 18-yard reception on the drive that saw him spin and shed off a St. Joe defender, before Ramirez (5 rush, 42 yards, 1 TD) scored from 1-yard out. This gave the Tarpons a 3-2 lead as the controlled portion of the scrimmage came to an end.
In the live half, Port Isabel’s defense put the clamps on St. Joe, allowing only 38 total yards and shutting them out through both quarters of play.
Rocha and Safety Tristan Green led the unit with four tackles each, while Denzel Garza made life tough for Bloodhound running backs as he recorded multiple stops, including two tackles for loss.
Other defensive players who contributed were DE Miles Moore (3 tackles, 1 sack) DE Jerry Troncoso (2.5 tackles), LB Finoña (3 tackles), DT Jay Valdez (2.5 tackles), as well as Oro Rodriguez and Jahi Vasquez, who tallied two tackles a piece.
Sophomore CB Ivan Medina also showed potential as he stuck toe-to-toe with St. Joe receivers on deep routes all night, coming up with two pass deflections and helping keep the Bloodhounds’ big plays to a minimum.
The lone score for both teams in the live portion came on Port Isabel’s opening possession, when Ramos, another sophomore, took a handoff and burst through the heart of SJ’s defense behind great blocking on a 30-yard trip to pay dirt.
Offensive linemen Jamil Vasquez, Jeremy Sollozo, and Jose Alonso impacted the game with solid downfield blocks throughout the contest, allowing Tarpon rushers to pick up big gains vs. the St. Joe D all evening.
Next up on the preseason Slate for Port Isabel is a road scrimmage vs. the Weslaco Panthers next Friday, August 21st, at a time T.B.D., before opening up their regular season the following week at La Joya Palmview.
I’m excited to see what this year’s edition of Tarpon football has in store. Based on their performance vs. St. Joseph, it’s going to be a fun season.
Also, I apologize for anything I may have missed. My two-year old son had me fighting for my life to keep up with the action on the field. If I made any mistakes, feel free to email me at: JohnsLawnsTX@ gmail.com.
Go big blue.
Leave a Reply