Late Friday night, destiny came knocking on Port Isabel’s door.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t wait forever as the Tarpons’ poor clock management cost them an opportunity to win the game, falling to their longtime rival, Rio Hondo, 26-21 on Parents’ Night.
1st Half
Just before kickoff, legendary game announcer Gualberto “El Wowee” Gonzales set the tone for the evening by declaring the rivalry “one of the biggest in South Texas history,” a contest that’s been played for upwards of 70 years.
On the game’s first drive, Rio Hondo would quickly force P.I. into a 3rd-&-long before QB Grayson Estes dialed his own number and skinnied through a couple of defenders for a first down pickup right at the marker.
However, they wouldn’t do much else on the series before punting the ball away.
After a short return, Rio Hondo’s offense came out swinging with two quick passes to speed up the tempo of the game.
The next play was a 57-yard shot down the right sideline from QB Matthew Lopez to his receiver Michael Lopez – left wide open as a pair of French doors – for a deep touchdown strike.
Following the PAT, Rio Hondo led 7-0.
The ensuing kickoff was fielded at the 10-yard line by Ivan Medina, who covered more ground than a John Deere tractor as he swerved back and forth for an electrifying 90-yard touchdown return, tying the score at 7 and breathing some life into the home crowd.
The Seawall defense finally woke up on the next series when Jesus Ramos delivered a huge hit to a Bobcat Receiver as he stretched out to haul in a screen pass from Lopez – his first incompletion of the game.
Rio Hondo would then opt to go for it on fourth down, but running back Mario Lopez got eaten up well behind the line of scrimmage by Eli Alvarez to force a turnover on downs.
After a solid run up the middle for six yards, Michael Finoña would cough up the ball and give it right back to the Bobcats, leading to their second score of the night – another bubble screen, this time to Sebastian Gonzalez, for a 21-yard TD.
The Bobcats faked the PAT and attempted a pass, but it was deflected in the back of the endzone by P.I. to preserve a 13-7 score in favor of Rio Hondo, with 1:01 to go in the first quarter.
Port Isabel would go on to control the time of possession for the remainder of the first half. They sustained two long drives that went for 16 plays and 11 plays, respectively, as Tarpon running backs began lowering their shoulders and wearing down the Bobcats’ front seven.
The offensive line also did some heavy lifting as they blew the right side of the defense back on a fourth down quarterback sneak by Estes.
I also noticed a nasty pancake block near the sideline by Jeremy Sollozo on an Ivan Medina run play for a 9-yard gain.
However, both of those long series’ ended without points.
First, the Tarpons were stopped on a 4th-&-long inside the redzone for a turnover on downs.
Then, after forcing a quick three-&-out, PI got the ball back with two minutes to go in the half and drove down to the 15-yard line.
However, before Estes could spike the ball and stop the clock, the first-half buzzer sounded as the marching bands took center stage.
2nd Half
Rio Hondo did not slow down in the third quarter, racking up big gains as they got down to the goal line in only five plays. QB Lopez would finish off the drive with a designed run for his third touchdown of the game as RH jumped out to a 20-7 lead just two minutes into the period.
Port Isabel responded with an explosive series of their own, going down the field in six plays – all rushing attempts – culminating in a huge 35-yard touchdown run by senior Bryan Ramirez.
He ran in between key downfield blocks by offensive linemen Eric Gonzalez and Thomas Garcia on the scoring play, as the Tarpons now trailed 14-20.
on the first play of Rio Hondo’s next series, RB Lopez lost control of the pigskin as he hit the second level of P.I.’s defense.
DT Hazzaiah Perdomo would cover up the loose ball tighter than the lid on a pickle jar – giving the ball right back to Port Isabel with 6:13 to go in the third quarter as the raucous home crowd got even louder.
But both offenses would cool their engines for a bit, while the defenses continued to lay pipe.
Eli Alvarez was handing out CTE like a pop quiz, Miles Moore batted a screen pass in the backfield, and Medina would make his defensive presence known with his first recorded tackle for loss to force a Bobcat punt.
On 4th-&-21, Rio Hondo’s deep snapper launched the ball over the punter’s head as it rolled all the way down to the 1-yard line, before DT Jahi Vasquez landed on the ball just inches from the goal line.
Estes followed behind his blockers on the next play for a game-tying QB sneak touchdown. A successful PAT put the Tarpons on top for the first time, 21-20, with 9:56 to go in the rubber match.
Facing a 3rd-&-10 on their next drive, RH would launch a prayer ball down the right hash that was overthrown by QB Lopez.
But the sideline judge called a pass interference on CB Ramos to save Rio Hondo’s dwindling chances and set them up with a new set of downs near midfield.
After a freak run play by RB Mario Lopez got RH inside the 10, QB Lopez fired a pass over every Port Isabel defender to find his target, Manny Perez, in the back of the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown.
Following the kickoff, Port Isabel would get the ball at their own 29-yard line, down 26-21, with a chance to go recapture the lead.
There was still 7:37 left in the fourth quarter.
But 14 handoffs, a timeout, and only 35 yards later, P.I.’s offense was jogging back toward the sidelines after getting stopped on fourth down with just seconds remaining on the game clock.
Rio Hondo would then take one final knee and escape Tarpon Stadium with a narrow, 26-21 road victory in another instant classic between the two heated rivals.
P.I. dominated the T.O.P. and rushed for 302 yards behind offensive linemen Thomas Garcia, Jeremy Sollozo, Jose Alonso, Jamil Vasquez, and Eric Gonzalez – and also got some dazzling play from their special teams units – but it just wasn’t enough to outlast the Bobcats’ explosive offense on Friday night.
The Tarpons were plagued by a mix of lax play-calling, no hurry-up offense to speak of, and a barnyard of unsportsmanlike penalties leading to ejections and extended Bobcat drives.
Rio Hondo was also able to flood out of the pocket on pass plays, focusing on quick-release screens that neutralized Port Isabel’s defensive ends and their pass rushing abilities.
Michael Finoña (78 yds) led all Tarpon rushers on the evening, while Estes (67 yds, 1 TD) Ramirez (52 yds, 1 TD), Ramos (47 yds), and Medina (43 yds) also chipped in to the cause on offense.
Leading tacklers included Alvarez, Tristan Green, and Alvaro Rocha.
What’s Next
Port Isabel (1-1) has one game remaining until it begins district play in the stockpiled District 16-4A Division ll.
Next week, they’ll take on another old-time foe, Raymondville, at Tarpon Stadium.
The 3A Bearkats kicked off their season with an impressive overtime win vs. 5A Harlingen South, before dismembering St. Joe 63-12 on Friday night.
I believe the Tarpons will regroup and head into district play with a big W.
Kickoff is set for next Friday, September 14th @ 7pm.
Go Big Blue.
All stats reported are official. Please feel free to reach out with questions or corrections. email: johnslawns tx@gmail.com.
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