By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, November 14, the (6-4) Port Isabel ECHS Tarpons took on the (6-3) Robstown Cotton Pickers in a Bi-District matchup.
PIECHS entered the game as favorites having secured the number 1 seed after winning their district’s championship, but could 4th place Robstown upset the Tarpons? With the Pickers utilizing a balanced attack out of the spread offense, the game shaped up to be a battle of an old school offense versus a modern one.
As the game got underway, the Tarpons got off to a good start as they marched down the field on a series of runs by running backs Luis Ramos, Edward Garza and Alvaro Rocha. Upon reaching the Pickers’ 16-yard line, PI dialed up a run up the middle a 4th & 1 situation, unfortunately, Robstown was expecting the same and the play resulted in a 4-yard loss.
Meanwhile, Robstown just needed one play to score as QB Trevin Crowley found WR Mike Williams Jr wide open for an 80-yard touchdown pass play as Robstown took an early 7-0 lead with 6:24 left in the first quarter.
The Tarpons responded with a 6-play scoring drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by Ramos. A botched extra point try made it a 7-6 game with 3:39 remaining in the first.
Robstown then went on a promising drive, only to have the Tarpons’ “Seawall Defense” stop them at the 7-yard line, where the Pickers completed a field goal. Robstown now led 10-6 in the top of the second quarter.
On their ensuing possession, Port Isabel went on a 10-play scoring drive capped by a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a TD by Bryan Martinez. A successful extra point kick gave the Tarpons a 13-10 lead with 5:31 left in the second.
After forcing Robstown to punt for the first time, Port Isabel clearly had the momentum. Unfortunately, things quickly changed as the Tarpons fumbled the ball away on their next possession and it was returned for a touchdown by Williams Jr. The Pickers successful 2-point play gave them a 18-13 lead with 1:50 left in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, disaster struck again as PI’s returnman was hit as he attempted to pick up the ball, and Robstown ended up recovering the loose ball. The Pickers, in a span of 36 seconds scored once again as they headed into the locker room with a 24-13 lead.
As the second half resumed, the Tarpons’ defense forced the Pickers to punt from their own 9-yard line. Starting at Robstown’s 41-yard line, PI then started to grind out the yards until they fumbled the ball away again, their fourth fumble.
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