By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On Thursday, Aug. 24, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons kicked off the start of the regular season with a game against the 3A Lyford Bulldogs. The Tarpons won last year’s non-district game in overtime (41-40), but the Bulldogs were out for revenge this year. It was a hard-fought game, but the Tarpons miscues cost them the game as Lyford celebrated a 36-29 homefield win.
Both teams got off to a rough start as they were each forced to punt the ball away in their opening series. PI’s punting from its own endzone and a good return by Lyford put the Bulldogs at Tarpons 14-yard line. On second down, PI’s LB/RB, Edward Garza burst up the middle and almost got the sack. But Lyford’s QB, Aiden Olivas, scrambled to the left and found an open receiver for the touchdown. Lyford went up 7-0 with 7:10 left in the first quarter.
PI’s next series doesn’t fare much better as they were forced to punt once again. Lyford started to march downfield. As they entered into Tarpon territory, the Bulldog runner was stripped of the ball and PI recovered it.
On its next series, Port Isabel started to gain momentum as they drove down the field. On the second play, PI’s QB, Bryan Martinez, and RB Garza made a 24-yard catch and run play. As the quarter was coming to an end, RB/LB, Jose “JoJo” Ochoa powered his way into the endzone from ten yards out to tie the game up at 7-7.
Lyford went three-and-out in its next series. Starting at their own 26-yard line, PI RB/LB Tristan Garcia rumbled for a 16-yard gain. A few plays later, PI called it’s second pass play and QB Martinez delivered with a 21-yard pass play to RB Ochoa. Now at the Bulldogs 11-yard line, the Tarpons unfortunately fumbled the ball three straight times and settled for a field goal. PI took a 10-7 lead with 3:39 left until halftime.
Lyford special teams got a 26-yard kickoff return. On the next play, Lyford completed a 32-yard pass play entering PI territory. Needing a big stop, PI’s LB Ochoa stripped the QB of the ball for a nine-yard loss. On the following play, the “Seawall Defense” rose up to the occasion again as DB/RB, AJ LeBlanc tipped the ball into the hands of LB, Garza who returned it to the Bulldogs 42-yard line.
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