By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On Friday the 13th, the Port Isabel Tarpons took care of business at home as they proved too much for the visiting Valley View Tigers in their 48-0 shutout win.
Port Isabel wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as PI’s Luis Ramos caught the opening kickoff and made his way to the right sideline. Following a wall of blockers, Ramos jetted down the sidelines for an 83-yard touchdown return. A missed extra point try, made it PI 6, VV 0 with just 12 seconds into the game.
The Tarpons’ “Seawall Defense” made their presence known from the get-go as they held the Tigers to a quick three-and-out in their initial possession. A big tackle for a loss by PI’s Edward Garza was key in the defensive stand.
Port Isabel’s QB, Grayson Estes, got his first start of the season under center as the Tarpons took the field at the Tigers’ 45-yard line. On the drive’s second play, Estes dropped back for a pass attempt. As defenders were closing in, he managed to escape the pressure and scrambled for 18-yard gain.
A 15-yard run by Ramos two plays later put the Tarpons at the Tigers’ one-yard line. On the next play, RB, Michael Finona punched it in for the score as the Tarpons extended their lead to 13-0 with 7:43 left in the first quarter.
The Tarpons struck again in the second quarter on a 75-yard touchdown run by Ramos as the Tarpons now led 20-0.
Aided by some Tarpon penalties, the Tigers managed to reach the Tarpon’s’ nine-yard line where they attempted a field goal. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the ball sailed over the holder and the Tarpons recovered the ball at the 30-yard line.
The Tarpons then went to work on their two-minute drill. After a 25-yard run by Ramos, PI QB Bryan Martinez connected with WR/DB Cleveland Smith for a 28-yard pass play. RB, Dylan Green capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run as the Tarpons headed into the locker room with a 27-0 lead.
The Tigers received the second half kickoff but turned the ball over on downs at the Tarpons’ 18-yard line. From there, the Tarpons went on a four-play, 87-yard scoring drive capped by a 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown reception by Ramos from QB Estes.
The staunch “Seawall Defense” held the Tigers to minus-one yards on their ensuing drive. Meanwhile, the PI reserves went in and managed to go on a seven-play scoring drive capped by a four-yard TD run by Anthony Aguillon to make it 41-0 Port Isabel. Luis Ramos’s younger brother, Jesus Ramos, had the highlight of the drive with a 48-yard run.
After an interception by PI’s Smith, the Tarpons scored one final time on a toss play to J. Ramos that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown run. Final Port Isabel 48, Valley View 0.
The (3-0) Port Isabel Tarpons will next face the (0-3) Hidalgo Pirates in Hidalgo on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.