By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, June 5 Port Isabel held its annual “Battle By The Bay” 7-on-7 Football Tournament. The event was one of many state wide State Qualifying Tournaments (SQT) held throughout Texas. The events are comprised of 8, 16, or 24 teams and only one team per eight competing teams will advance to the State 7-on-7 Tournament which will be held on June 25-27 at College Station, Tx.
The local tourney had a total of eight teams participating which were separated into two pools. Pool A consisted of Port Isabel, La Grulla, Santa Maria, and La Feria. Meanwhile, Pool B consisted of Ponder, Rio Hondo, Lyford, and Edcouch-Elsa.
The Port Isabel team has been competing in several local mini-tournaments the past few months where they’ve held their own against some tough teams from bigger cities like Weslaco, Brownsville, and San Benito.
The Tarpons willingness to face stiff competition during the season paid off, as they quickly dispatched La Grulla, 27-0, in their tournament opener.
In their second game, Port Isabel kept its foot on the gas as they overwhelmed Santa Maria, 35-6, a game which had the Tarpons return two interceptions for touchdowns.
PI’s third game featured an old nemesis, the La Feria Lions, who had been beating their opponents as well. The winner between these two would advance to the championship game.
The Tarpons’ offense struck first against the Lions, taking an early 6-0 lead. PI added another score with just seconds remaining in the first half to take a 13-6 advantage into halftime.
As the second half resumed, PI quarterback Grayson Estes, continued to show patience and poise, leading the Tarpons to a 27-12 victory over the Lions.
The championship game had PI face off with a familiar foe in Edcouch-Elsa. The teams had faced off in previous tourneys leading up to this SQT, with each team picking up a win in their last two meetings.
The game started off as a defensive battle as PI almost scored off an interception return. Meanwhile, the Yellowjackets had an interception of their own, but they did manage to return it for a score, as EE took an early 6-0 lead.
On their ensuing drive, the Tarpons’ offense went on a 6-play scoring drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown reception by Mikel Sosa. PI’s Bryan Ramirez snatched a tipped ball for the crucial extra point as PI took a 7-6 lead.
The Yellowjackets responded with a 41-yard TD reception with about five minutes remaining in the first half, retaking the lead, 13-7.
As both offenses started to find their rhythm, PI QB Estes connected with receiver Jesus Ramos on a 34-yard TD reception. Armani Reyna nabbed the extra point try to give PI a 14-13 lead.
A highlight play right before halftime was a nifty interception by PI’s Denzel Garza, stalling a Yellowjackets drive.
As the second half resumed, both teams came up with some big stops.
The offenses came roaring back, as a big 35-yard reception by EE led to an eventual touchdown, and the Yellowjackets now led, 19-14.
Not to be outdone, QB Estes connected with his receiver Elijah Alvarez on the 27-yard touchdown reception, as PI now led 20-19 with 4:24 showing on the clock.
Breaking the back-and-forth battle, PI’s Ramos intercepted the ball and returned it for the score, giving Port Isabel a 26-19 lead.
Not giving up, EE goes into their two-minute drill and end up scoring with half a minute left in the game. With the Tarpons holding unto a 26-25 lead, the Yellowjackets decide to go for the win on an extra 2-point play.
The QB threw the ball into the corner of the endzone, but it was incomplete and the Tarpons punched their ticket to the State 7-on-7 Tournament!
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