By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On September 4, the 4A Port Isabel Tarpons will be on the road as they take on their old rival the 3A Rio Hondo Bobcats in a Thursday night game. Last season’s game was a nail-biter as the Tarpons secured a 27-24 overtime win at home.
Week two action has the Tarpons looking to bounce back after losing their first game of the season to 3A Lyford, 13-12 in overtime. Meanwhile, the Bobcats look to continue their winning ways after overwhelming Valley View 63-0 in last weeks’ game.
Rio Hondo graduated two key players in QB Ruben Atkinson and WR/LB Keyan Lopez, Atkinson threw for three touchdowns vs the Tarpons while the latter gave the PI offense fits by timing the snap count to perfection.
Rio Hondo does not look like it lost a step as new Bobcat QB, Matthew Lopez threw for 329 yards on 12 of 15 passes against the VV Tigers. Lopez spread the ball around to four receivers with sophomore WR catching four receptions for 109 yards. The primary runner for the Bobcats is junior standout RB Mario Lopez who racked up 170 yards on 12 carries for a whopping 14.2 yards per carry, and added 52 yards on two receptions.
Although the Tarpons’ defense only gave up 110 yards passing against Lyford, the Bulldogs only attempted eight passes and netting 22 yards per reception. The Tarpons defense will have their hands full when go up against a more potent Bobcats’ offense.
The Tarpons’ offense will need to do a better job this week as they just looked off their typical self. They had more of their share of miscues from fumbles, to missed blocks and drive-stalling penalties. Granted the team is missing a key player or two that play both ways, but so does every other team out there.
PI RB Ramos who picked up 205 rushing yards in this matchup last year, will continue to be the Tarpons main weapon on the field. While the rest of the running backs in Bryan Ramirez, Angel Dominguez and Michael Finona try to keep the chains moving. PI QB Bryan Martinez had an off-night last week, will be looking to redeem himself threw the air or on the ground when called upon.
Port Isabel currently holds four game winning streak versus Rio Hondo and holds a 39-32-1 overall win record against the Bobcats dating back to their first match back in 1950.
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