By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
The schedule for the upcoming football season has been recently released, and at first glance, the new district opponents definitely stand out, as does the amount of traveling.
Due to the new alignment, La Feria and Kingsville King have been added to district 16-4A division 2, but the district remains a 4-team district. They replaced Raymondville and Bishop since they were moved down to the 3A ranks due to a loss of enrollment.
The Port Isabel Tarpons open the season with their first scrimmage at home on Aug. 15 against Weslaco East. The following week, the Tarpons will hit the road on Aug. 23 as they take on the Zapata Hawks for their second and final scrimmage.
Playing in a small district once again, the Tarpons are scheduled to play seven non-district opponents before they close out the season against their three district opponents.
In week one (Aug. 30), the Tarpons will kick off the regular season with a home game against the 3A Lyford Bulldogs. Last year, the Bulldogs upset the Tarpons 36-29 in Lyford.
In week two (Sept. 5, Parent’s Night), the Tarpons will remain at home as they host their long-time rival, the 3A Rio Hondo Bobcats. Last year, the Tarpons beat the Bobcats 48-20.
In week three (Sept. 13), the Tarpons will be on the road as they take on the 5A Valley View Tigers. Last year, the Tarpons almost got upset by the Tigers, but PI ultimately won the game in overtime, 20-13.
In week four (Sept. 20), the Tarpons will head back to Hidalgo County when they take on the 4A Hidalgo Pirates. The teams have not faced each other since the 2019 season.
In week five (Sept. 27, Homecoming), the Tarpons are back home as they take on the 5A Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets. The Tarpons picked up the win last year in a close 34-30 game.
In week six (Oct. 4), the Tarpons will be making their longest drive of the regular . season (2 hours, 23 minutes) as they take on the 5A Roma Gladiators. This will be the first time these two schools face off in football.
In the previous two seasons, Port Isabel had experimented with playing two teams from Mexico.
Unfortunately, the skill, strength, technique, and fundamental differences proved too lopsided between the teams. If Roma can replicate its performance in 2023, they should provide a tough test for the Tarpons.
In week seven (Oct. 11), the Tarpons will be on the road again, but it will be a much shorter drive as they travel down Highway 48 to take on the Brownsville St. Joseph Academy Bulldogs. Port Isabel hasn’t played the private school since the 2021 season.
In week eight (October 18), the Tarpons start their district run of games with a home game against the Kingsville King Brahmas. With distance and the Brahmas always slotted in the bigger class or division, this matchup will also be a first.
In week nine (Oct. 25), the Tarpons will have an away game when they take on the La Feria Lions. Although the teams haven’t played against each other since the 2019 season, they had a long history together when they were in the old district, 32-3A.
In week ten (Nov. 1, Senior Night), the Tarpons wrap up the regular season with a game against the La Grulla Gators. The Tarpons got the better of the Gators last year in a 28-7 win.
Although the Tarpons automatically qualify for the playoffs due to the small district, they should be favorites to win the district, as La Feria, Kingsville, and La Grulla all had losing seasons last year while the Tarpons finished 9-3.
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