By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday night, the (2-3) Port Isabel Tarpons hosted the (3-2) Roma Gladiators in a non-district matchup. The game featured two relics of a bygone era of football — a time when nearly every team ran the ball 95% of the time.
In a battle of identical offensive schemes, it came down to who controlled the trenches, and that advantage went to Roma. The Gladiators’ physical play up front proved too much for the young, inexperienced PI offensive line. By the time the clock hit zero, Roma had racked up 297 rushing yards while Port Isabel was held to 157.
The Tarpons’ offense took the field first and tried to catch the Gladiators off guard with a deep ball on first down. PI quarterback Bryan Martinez hit his receiver in stride, but the pass was dropped. On the next play, running back Luis Ramos’ number was called on a toss. He took the handoff, turned the corner, outran several defenders, and sprinted down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown run. The Tarpons took an early 7-0 lead with 11:28 showing in the first quarter.
On the Gladiators’ ensuing drive, Roma began moving the ball downfield on a series of runs by RB Ruben Garcia Jr. and RB Rafael Ruiz. The Gladiators reached the Tarpons’ 9-yard line but were pushed back after a pair of false starts. That’s when PI’s defense rose to the occasion, as DE Jerry Troncoso and DT Alvaro Rocha teamed up to sack the Roma quarterback for a 6-yard loss. Another key stop by the “Seawall Defense” on the next play forced a turnover on downs.
The game turned into a defensive battle for the next few possessions until Roma mounted an 8-play scoring drive capped by a 6-yard TD keeper from QB Jorge Tamayo. The Tarpons hurt themselves on that drive with three costly penalties, and Tamayo took advantage, picking up most of the yardage on keepers. After the touchdown, PI’s defense stopped the two-point attempt, and the Tarpons took a 7-6 lead into halftime.
As the second half began, Roma picked up right where it left off, methodically marching downfield. Fourteen plays later, the Gladiators punched it in from one yard out. A successful two-point conversion gave Roma a 14-7 lead with 5:13 left in the third quarter.
With about eight minutes remaining in the fourth, the Tarpons began a promising drive. After reaching the Gladiators’ 28-yard line, Ramos once again broke free for what appeared to be a 28-yard touchdown run — but a blindside block penalty on PI negated the score. The drive ended on the next play with an interception.
As time wound down, it seemed Roma had the game secured. But with just 38 seconds left, the Gladiators fumbled, and PI recovered. Starting at Roma’s 36-yard line, QB Bryan Martinez rolled out to pass, but was sacked for a 7-yard loss. On the next play, Martinez connected with TE Logan Bennett for a 15-yard gain. With only seconds remaining, the Tarpons rushed to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock. They managed one final play, but the pass bounced off the receiver’s chest — incomplete. Roma held on to win, 14-7.
Other notable scores: Kingsville King defeated Valley View 34-7; La Feria fell to Brownsville St. Joseph 66-42; and La Grulla edged Hidalgo 28-20. In other regional action, a pair of state-ranked 4A teams traveled to the RGV to face two 6A programs: No. 5 Cuero beat Harlingen 35-27, and No. 1 Carthage rolled past San Benito 41-3.
Up next for the (2-4) Port Isabel Tarpons is another non-district matchup against the (2-4) Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds on Thursday, Oct. 9, at Tarpon Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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