footballgal
08-21-2004, 09:48 AM
Port Isabel takes command over Mercedes
By MIKE GONZALEZ
The Brownsville Herald
PORT ISABEL, August 21, 2004 — Scrimmages are usually used for head coaches to get a good feel before the season starts.
On Friday night, Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh and his Tarpons appeared in regular season form after their impressive 20-0 win over the Mercedes Tigers.
Despite the lopsided victory, Stumbaugh didn’t hesitate to say there’s still a lot of work to do.
“By no means have we answered them (questions) all,” Stumbaugh said. “Some got answered. We feel like we took a step forward.”
It was the Tarpons second scrimmage as they faced defending District 32-4A champion Edcouch-Elsa last week. In that scrimmage, Stumbaugh said the team struggled, but was happy the way things turned out this time.
The story of the scrimmage was the smash mouth running of Port Isabel led by Johnny "Nitro" Nieto. On Port Isabel’s third play from scrimmage, Nieto scored from 25 yards to put the Tarpons up 6-0. The drive was set up following a Mercedes turnover on the second play of its first drive.
After the defense manhandled the Tigers again three-and-out, the offense went back to work again. This time quarterback Orlando Ochoa found Nieto again for an 80-yard touchdown pass in the Tarpons first play of their second drive.
Mistakes cost the Tarpons opportunities to widen their advantage. Port Isabel scored two touchdowns, but was called back on penalties. Still, Stumbaugh was glad to see Nieto and the offensive line work well together.
“Johnny (Nieto) is a football player,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s a tough kid and he runs tougher than he looks. The line did a better job coming off the ball and he (Nieto) was able to do his thing.”
As for the defense, the biggest play Mercedes got was a 36-yard run on its fourth possession. Other than that, the Tigers were held in check.
The two squads played two 15-minute quarters, following an early series of controlled plays.
In that format each team got the ball at the 30-yard line and had three chances to get a first down. Fullback Frankie Herrera was credited on Port Isabel’s first two scores. The Tarpons scored again scored on a six-yard touchdown run.
After that, both teams then played a goal line format, as the Tarpons were able to score on four occasions, while Mercedes put it in the end zone once.
Non-district competition starts next week as Port Isabel hosts Los Fresnos (5A) in the battle of Highway 100.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sports_more.php?id=60701_0_9_0_M37
By MIKE GONZALEZ
The Brownsville Herald
PORT ISABEL, August 21, 2004 — Scrimmages are usually used for head coaches to get a good feel before the season starts.
On Friday night, Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh and his Tarpons appeared in regular season form after their impressive 20-0 win over the Mercedes Tigers.
Despite the lopsided victory, Stumbaugh didn’t hesitate to say there’s still a lot of work to do.
“By no means have we answered them (questions) all,” Stumbaugh said. “Some got answered. We feel like we took a step forward.”
It was the Tarpons second scrimmage as they faced defending District 32-4A champion Edcouch-Elsa last week. In that scrimmage, Stumbaugh said the team struggled, but was happy the way things turned out this time.
The story of the scrimmage was the smash mouth running of Port Isabel led by Johnny "Nitro" Nieto. On Port Isabel’s third play from scrimmage, Nieto scored from 25 yards to put the Tarpons up 6-0. The drive was set up following a Mercedes turnover on the second play of its first drive.
After the defense manhandled the Tigers again three-and-out, the offense went back to work again. This time quarterback Orlando Ochoa found Nieto again for an 80-yard touchdown pass in the Tarpons first play of their second drive.
Mistakes cost the Tarpons opportunities to widen their advantage. Port Isabel scored two touchdowns, but was called back on penalties. Still, Stumbaugh was glad to see Nieto and the offensive line work well together.
“Johnny (Nieto) is a football player,” Stumbaugh said. “He’s a tough kid and he runs tougher than he looks. The line did a better job coming off the ball and he (Nieto) was able to do his thing.”
As for the defense, the biggest play Mercedes got was a 36-yard run on its fourth possession. Other than that, the Tigers were held in check.
The two squads played two 15-minute quarters, following an early series of controlled plays.
In that format each team got the ball at the 30-yard line and had three chances to get a first down. Fullback Frankie Herrera was credited on Port Isabel’s first two scores. The Tarpons scored again scored on a six-yard touchdown run.
After that, both teams then played a goal line format, as the Tarpons were able to score on four occasions, while Mercedes put it in the end zone once.
Non-district competition starts next week as Port Isabel hosts Los Fresnos (5A) in the battle of Highway 100.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sports_more.php?id=60701_0_9_0_M37