Port Isabel Tarpons 2023

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

This forum needs some RGV representation!!! Who better than the Tarpons???

The 2023 team brings back 7 offensive and 8 defensive starters along with a very good core of Sophs and Juniors.

Also, this year's Freshman class...WATCH OUT!!!

So far, Port Isabel has finished their 2 scrimmages for the season. Results below.

Port Isabel @ Weslaco East (5A D1): Controlled - PI 3, WE 3. Live Half - Port Isabel 21, Weslaco East 21 (((special note: according to folks who were at the scrimmage, most of WE's scores were on PI backups)))

Hidalgo (4A D1) @ Port Isabel: Controlled - PI 6, Hidalgo 0. Live 1 Quarter - Port Isabel 14, Hidalgo 7 (((total dominance by PI, even by backups.)))

Tarpons play @ Lyford (3A D1) this Thursday at 7pm. Last year's game went into OT, with PI winning 42-41 after Lyford went for a 2pt try and failed.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Tarpons took one on the chin vs. Lyford. Can't be fumbling the ball 9-10 times a game (losing 4 of them) and expect to win a football game.

Port Isabel - 29
Lyford - 36

All but 1 of Lyford's scores were off PI turnovers. 2 of which were in Lyford's red zone.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Tarpons play tonight @ Rio Hondo. I'm unsure if it's being live streamed on RSL or not, but I'll have a gander later this afternoon.

Rio Hondo is coming off a big W over Raymondville 34-6. Most of their starters from a very young team are back, and they did give the Tarpons some fits in last year's game before the fish by the bay finally pulled away.

THIS season, the fish need to get their pass defense and fumbling issues sorted. If not, it could be another long night for the Tarpon defense.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Tarpons with a good win over Rio Hondo 48-20, though things were a bit interesting for the first 1 1/2 quarters.

Rio Hondo made PI's secondary look like swiss cheese and completely clueless. They threw the kitchen sink at the Tarpons and were up 17-7 at one point. Tarpons got it to 17-14 before Rio Hondo nearly scored again. But a dropped TD pass by Rio Hondo led to them being held to a FG and a 20-14 lead.

It was all Tarpons after that. Tarpons scored twice to make it 28-20 at the half. Then a few more scores from the Tarpons made it 48-20. There WAS one TD run scored by the Tarpons backups late in the 4th that was called back that would have made the score 54/55-20.

As for the turnover bug, there was still a little bit of an issue, but nowhere near as severe as last week's game vs. Lyford where the Tarpons put the ball on the ground 9 times, and lost 4. This week, there were 2 fumbles and 1 bad C/QB exchange. All 3 fumbles were lost. But in each instance, the Tarpon defense held Rio Hondo to 0 points off those turnovers.

[SintonFan_inAustin]

run game looking very good for PI this season.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

run game looking very good for PI this season.

Yep, as is the passing game whenever it's used. The Soph. QB is starting to get into his groove, too.

Tarpons play Valley View tonight. This isn't the Valley View up by Pilot Point / Celina, this is the Valley View district between Pharr and Hidalgo. Even though historically the Tigers are terrible (they're more a basketball school than football) they always play the Tarpons very tough.

Last year's game was a narrow 13-12 win for the Tarpons.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Sure enough, tough game!

Score at end of regulation is 13-13.

OVERTIME!

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Port Isabel scores on the first play in OT via a Tristan Garcia 25 yard TD run right up the middle.

PAT is GOOD to make it 20-13

Valley View drives it down to the 1 yard line, but is then sacked, called for a false start, then an incomplete pass on 4th down to finish the game.

Tarpons pull out a gutsy 20-13 win over Pharr Valley View.

Port Isabel - 20
Pharr Valley View - 13

FINAL

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

Tarpons played Brownsville Veterans on Friday, a 5A D1 who, for all intents and purposes should be moving up to 6A in this next realignment, really close for 3 1/2 quarters.

With the score at 20-13 Brownsville ahead midway through the 4th quarter, Port Isabel gets a great kickoff return which sets the Tarpons up at the Brownsville 11 yard line. The Tarpons get as far as the 2 yard line, but a tremendous goal line stand by Brownsville Vets stops that Tarpon drive. Then 2 plays later, Brownsville breaks a 97 yard run down to the PI 1 yard line. They score 1 play later to make the final score 27-13.

Up next for the Tarpons is Edcouch-Elsa, who look to have gone to the Air Raid this year after being a Slot-T team last season. Speaking of Edcouch-Elsa....don't be too surprised if they drop to 4A D1 in this next realignment.