By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On Friday, Aug. 30, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons took on the 3A Lyford Bulldogs at Tarpon Stadium in the season’s opener.
Port Isabel got off to a good start as the Tarpons’ “Seawall Defense” held the Bulldogs to just 14 yards in the opening drive. Starting from their own 22-yard line, the Tarpons went on a nine-play scoring drive capped by
a 35-yard touchdown run by RB, Luis Ramos as the Tarpons went up 7-0 with 5:15 left in the first quarter.
On Lyford’s next play, QB Adrian Chavez led the charge as the Bulldogs went on a 70-yard scoring drive. The Tarpons had stopped them at the 16-yard line, but unfortunately, a PI penalty gave the Bulldogs a new set of
downs. QB Chavez rushed for 48 yards during the drive, including an eight-yard TD run. A missed extra point try made it Port Isabel seven, Lyford six, with two seconds left in the first quarter.
The Tarpons’ “Tidal Wave” offense wasted no time on their next drive as RB, Ramos broke free on a 65-yard touchdown run and the Tarpons now led 14-6. Ramos showed his game-breaking abilities by rushing for 115
yards and two touchdowns on his first three carries.
The Tarpons defense stopped Lyford on their next drive as PI DB Christian Smith recovered a fumble caused by LB/RB, Ryan Cinfuegos – his second forced fumble of the night. The Bulldogs got a forced fumble of their
own, but neither team were able to sustain any drives as the first half came to a close.
The second half got off to a sluggish start as both teams struggled with penalties.
With a little over five minutes left in the third quarter, the Tarpons went on a nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive capped by a four-yard TD run by RB Cinfuegos.
Lyford players started to go down with cramps on what seemed every other play and consequently, they seemed to get weaker as the game went on.
In the top of the fourth quarter, RB, Ramos broke free on 58-yard touchdown, running down the sidelines to paydirt as the Tarpons extended their lead to 28-6.
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