(Courtesy photo by PIECHS)
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, November 17, the (9-2) Port Isabel Tarpons faced off with the (8-3) Geronimo Navarro Panthers in the Area round of the playoffs. The teams had two previous playoff meetings. In the 2021 playoffs, Navarro beat Port Isabel 55-7, and during the 2012 playoffs, the Tarpons got the best of the Panthers in a 35-28 win.
This year’s matchup featured two run-heavy offensive teams going at it, but Navarro’s passing attack was just as potent as its running game. The Panther’s combination of runs and passes proved too much in the end, as Navarro defeated the Tarpons 29-13 to advance to the third round of the playoffs.
Right off the bat, the Panthers caught the Tarpons off guard as they completed a 48-yard pass on the first play of the game. Fortunately, the Panthers could not overcome a pair of penalties a few plays later and turned the ball over on downs.
Port Isabel could not do much on its next possession but managed to secure a fumble by the Panthers. From their 43-yard line, the Tarpons started to drive down the field on a series of runs. PI’s RB, Tristan Garcia, eventually capped the 14-play scoring drive with a 2-yard TD run. The Tarpons took a 7-0 lead with 10:45 left in the second quarter.
Both teams had issues with penalties and were forced to punt the ball away. On the next Panther possession, QB Colton Schuelke led the team on a 6-play scoring drive capped by a 58-yard touchdown pass. A successful 2-point conversion gave Navarro an 8-7 lead with 4:39 left in the second quarter.
After forcing another PI punt, the Panthers went on another scoring drive as the Navarro jumped out to a 15-7 lead with less than a minute left until halftime. A big 38-yard pass play highlighted the drive.
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