footballgal
08-14-2012, 03:34 PM
It's a little late, but had not had a chance to post it this year yet until now.
http://images.onset.freedom.com/vmstar/m8gxzx-m8gxzcb120120808portisabelfootball8.jpg
Expectations high for experienced Port Isabel gridders
By ARMANDO GARZA/Valley Morning Star
2012-08-08 22:35:57
PORT ISABEL — Attention to detail is going to be a big subject during Port Isabel Tarpons workouts.
Close losses and miscues kept Big Blue from a district title last season, and veteran coach Monty Stumbaugh knows focusing on those things will help the Tarpons be a better football team.
“We’ve got to do the little things right for us to be successful,” said Stumbaugh. “We feel like we lost games because of the little things. If you don’t do those things, you get beat.”
Other than a season opening loss to Edcouch-Elsa, PI’s three other losses were by a combined 21 points.
The workmanlike Tarpons were hard at work Wednesday and Stumbaugh expects 118 strong in the coming days.
PI returns 14 starters (8 defense, 6 offense) and has been pegged by many to win District 32-3A. The Tarpons last won a league crown in 2010 when they split it with Rio Hondo, last year’s winner.
While many of last year’s stars are back, there are a couple of new wrinkles to this Tarpon team.
Earlier this summer, the Tarpon 7-on-7 team qualified for the state tournament, showing that it’s not all about the run by the bay.
At workouts, had just a few more footballs filled the air and junior QB Isaiah Martinez (who had over 1,200 yards offensively in ’11) was throwing darts all over the field.
While PI isn’t overhauling their run-oriented attack, indeed, Big Blue can run and throw and it’ll be key in another battle for the 32-3A crown.
“We’re gonna try to be a bit more balanced. We know we need to,” Stumbaugh said. “The kids got some momentum from 7-on-7 and they now feel like they can throw the ball when needed.”
The Tarpons also have a new defensive coordinator in veteran Mike Royce, who was last at Garland Naaman Forest as an assistant. The veteran has coached at several schools in Texas and had been a head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
“He’s been a head coach before and has a lot of experience as a defensive coordinator,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s worked with good people, faced a lot of spread teams and has a good rapport with the kids.”
Royce takes over for Justin Stumbaugh, who took an administrator’s job with another district.
“He (Royce) knows the game of football very well and we’re glad to have him,” Stumbaugh said. “There’s a few new things we want to do and it’s good to have different trains of thought. We’re fortunate to have him.”
THE SKINNY
With all of those returnees, the Tarpons are expected to do well. Players like Martinez, DE Jacques Guilllot and a good backfield tandem of Juan Aguilera (600 yards) and Javier Vela (300) are all positives for PI.
Many of the Tarpons’ vets are juniors and the talented group will be a force this year. Just how much depends on the things Stumbaugh described. Eliminating turnovers and taking advantage of opportunities are high on Stumbaugh’s list of priorities.
But a big difference has been pride and attitude, which is more evident with this group. Players do not like to lose and had won district titles before last season. This team will be on a mission this season.
LAST YEAR’S RECORD
6-5 overall, tied for second in 32-3A, lost to Orange Grove in bi-district
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Isaiah Martinez (Jr. 5-7, 150)
DE Jacques Guillot (Jr. 5-11, 225)
DE Miguel Ramirez (Jr. 6-2, 200)
RB Juan Aguilera (Jr. 5-9, 180)
WR/DB Zach Reeves (Sr. 6-2, 180)
OL/DL Cristian Nunez (Sr. 5-8, 220)
UP & COMERS
OL/DL Mark Benavides
DB/WR Kenny Herrera
RB/DB Javier Vela
Armando Garza covers District 32-3A football for the Valley Morning Star. He can be reached at 956-430-6255 or at armandog@valleystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @adgarza5.
http://images.onset.freedom.com/vmstar/m8gxzx-m8gxzcb120120808portisabelfootball8.jpg
Expectations high for experienced Port Isabel gridders
By ARMANDO GARZA/Valley Morning Star
2012-08-08 22:35:57
PORT ISABEL — Attention to detail is going to be a big subject during Port Isabel Tarpons workouts.
Close losses and miscues kept Big Blue from a district title last season, and veteran coach Monty Stumbaugh knows focusing on those things will help the Tarpons be a better football team.
“We’ve got to do the little things right for us to be successful,” said Stumbaugh. “We feel like we lost games because of the little things. If you don’t do those things, you get beat.”
Other than a season opening loss to Edcouch-Elsa, PI’s three other losses were by a combined 21 points.
The workmanlike Tarpons were hard at work Wednesday and Stumbaugh expects 118 strong in the coming days.
PI returns 14 starters (8 defense, 6 offense) and has been pegged by many to win District 32-3A. The Tarpons last won a league crown in 2010 when they split it with Rio Hondo, last year’s winner.
While many of last year’s stars are back, there are a couple of new wrinkles to this Tarpon team.
Earlier this summer, the Tarpon 7-on-7 team qualified for the state tournament, showing that it’s not all about the run by the bay.
At workouts, had just a few more footballs filled the air and junior QB Isaiah Martinez (who had over 1,200 yards offensively in ’11) was throwing darts all over the field.
While PI isn’t overhauling their run-oriented attack, indeed, Big Blue can run and throw and it’ll be key in another battle for the 32-3A crown.
“We’re gonna try to be a bit more balanced. We know we need to,” Stumbaugh said. “The kids got some momentum from 7-on-7 and they now feel like they can throw the ball when needed.”
The Tarpons also have a new defensive coordinator in veteran Mike Royce, who was last at Garland Naaman Forest as an assistant. The veteran has coached at several schools in Texas and had been a head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
“He’s been a head coach before and has a lot of experience as a defensive coordinator,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s worked with good people, faced a lot of spread teams and has a good rapport with the kids.”
Royce takes over for Justin Stumbaugh, who took an administrator’s job with another district.
“He (Royce) knows the game of football very well and we’re glad to have him,” Stumbaugh said. “There’s a few new things we want to do and it’s good to have different trains of thought. We’re fortunate to have him.”
THE SKINNY
With all of those returnees, the Tarpons are expected to do well. Players like Martinez, DE Jacques Guilllot and a good backfield tandem of Juan Aguilera (600 yards) and Javier Vela (300) are all positives for PI.
Many of the Tarpons’ vets are juniors and the talented group will be a force this year. Just how much depends on the things Stumbaugh described. Eliminating turnovers and taking advantage of opportunities are high on Stumbaugh’s list of priorities.
But a big difference has been pride and attitude, which is more evident with this group. Players do not like to lose and had won district titles before last season. This team will be on a mission this season.
LAST YEAR’S RECORD
6-5 overall, tied for second in 32-3A, lost to Orange Grove in bi-district
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Isaiah Martinez (Jr. 5-7, 150)
DE Jacques Guillot (Jr. 5-11, 225)
DE Miguel Ramirez (Jr. 6-2, 200)
RB Juan Aguilera (Jr. 5-9, 180)
WR/DB Zach Reeves (Sr. 6-2, 180)
OL/DL Cristian Nunez (Sr. 5-8, 220)
UP & COMERS
OL/DL Mark Benavides
DB/WR Kenny Herrera
RB/DB Javier Vela
Armando Garza covers District 32-3A football for the Valley Morning Star. He can be reached at 956-430-6255 or at armandog@valleystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @adgarza5.