footballgal
10-13-2007, 01:33 AM
It’s Tarpon (over)time
Port Isabel rallies to turn back La Feria
BY MIKE GONZALEZ
http://admin.onset.freedom.com/pictures/rgvsports/1192255760-laferiavsportisabel3.jpg
Port Isabel running back Nolan Nunez scored the Tarpons’ game-winning touchdown in overtime. He finished with 163 yards on 17carries as the Tarpons rallied to defeat a salty La Feria squad, 26-20 on Friday night at Lion Stadium.
Lynn Hermosa | Valley Morning Star
Oct 13, 2007 1:07 am
LA FERIA - They are the Tarpons.
No matter how bad things may look, Port Isabel could never be counted out. They sure as heck have proven it over and over again. In a district as balanced as District 32-3A is this year, head coach Monty Stumbaugh got a good taste of what the voyage is going to be like this season.
Trailing for most of the game, Port Isabel stayed cool and erased a 13-point deficit to send the game into an extra period and managed to pull out a miraculous 26-20 overtime win over La Feria in both teams’ league opener at Lions Stadium.
In the fourth quarter, PI (1-0 in District 32-3A, 4-2 overall)trailed 20-7, but then rallied with two touchdown runs by David Alaniz on a quarterback sneak and Nolan Nuñez on a run. The score by Nuñez tied the game at 20 with just over two minutes left with the extra point pending. Kicker Jaime Salazar looked to give the Tarpons the lead with his extra point, but the Lions came through with a block keeping the game tied.
After moving the ball on the Seawall Defense all night, the Lions weren’t able to make things happen on their last two drives. Nick LeBlanc and Mark Barrera got a sack on two separate occasions. Barrera’s came with 45 seconds left when La Feria was threatning just before the overtime.
In the OT, Port Isabel got the ball first and Nuñez scored his second touchdown after he found a gaping hole on his left side. The extra point was missed again, only this time Salazar missed wide left.
So with a TD and extra point needed, the Seawall made sure it didn’t even come to that. After two plays, La Feria quarterback Eleazar Esquivel went for it all with a throw to Justin Lee Gonzales in the end zone. PI cornerback Luis Galicia read it all the way and intercepted the ball ending the contest.
“I looked up saw the ball and at the last second went for it,” Galicia said. “I was waiting for it.”
After being contained for most of the night, Nuñez ended the night with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, putting him very close to the 1,000-yard mark. The senior said at least two Lion defenders were on him all night. Nuñez said he and the offensive line had a pep talk and whatever was said, the holes were there in the end.
“I didn’t want to go without a dogfight,” Nuñez said. “Told them what to do and (we) came out with a win.”
Being in the situation a ton of times, Stumbaugh felt his team made plays when they needed to.
“We believe in our kids,” Stumbaugh said. “We tell them to play and you never know what’s gonna happen. In this district, you don’t want to start 0-1.”
Randy Rodriguez had a terrific game for La Feria as he ended with 146 yards while Esquivel threw for 170 yards and a 55-yard touchdown pass to Justin Lee Gonzales. Lions head coach Elifonso Esquivel knows his team fought hard and although his team came up in the short end, the first-year coach believes this district isn’t over yet.
“The winner of this district will be 3-1,” Esquivel said. “It’s tough, it could’ve gone either way. Best games we’ve seen in our area.”
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/nuñez_714___article.xml/district_extra.html
Port Isabel rallies to turn back La Feria
BY MIKE GONZALEZ
http://admin.onset.freedom.com/pictures/rgvsports/1192255760-laferiavsportisabel3.jpg
Port Isabel running back Nolan Nunez scored the Tarpons’ game-winning touchdown in overtime. He finished with 163 yards on 17carries as the Tarpons rallied to defeat a salty La Feria squad, 26-20 on Friday night at Lion Stadium.
Lynn Hermosa | Valley Morning Star
Oct 13, 2007 1:07 am
LA FERIA - They are the Tarpons.
No matter how bad things may look, Port Isabel could never be counted out. They sure as heck have proven it over and over again. In a district as balanced as District 32-3A is this year, head coach Monty Stumbaugh got a good taste of what the voyage is going to be like this season.
Trailing for most of the game, Port Isabel stayed cool and erased a 13-point deficit to send the game into an extra period and managed to pull out a miraculous 26-20 overtime win over La Feria in both teams’ league opener at Lions Stadium.
In the fourth quarter, PI (1-0 in District 32-3A, 4-2 overall)trailed 20-7, but then rallied with two touchdown runs by David Alaniz on a quarterback sneak and Nolan Nuñez on a run. The score by Nuñez tied the game at 20 with just over two minutes left with the extra point pending. Kicker Jaime Salazar looked to give the Tarpons the lead with his extra point, but the Lions came through with a block keeping the game tied.
After moving the ball on the Seawall Defense all night, the Lions weren’t able to make things happen on their last two drives. Nick LeBlanc and Mark Barrera got a sack on two separate occasions. Barrera’s came with 45 seconds left when La Feria was threatning just before the overtime.
In the OT, Port Isabel got the ball first and Nuñez scored his second touchdown after he found a gaping hole on his left side. The extra point was missed again, only this time Salazar missed wide left.
So with a TD and extra point needed, the Seawall made sure it didn’t even come to that. After two plays, La Feria quarterback Eleazar Esquivel went for it all with a throw to Justin Lee Gonzales in the end zone. PI cornerback Luis Galicia read it all the way and intercepted the ball ending the contest.
“I looked up saw the ball and at the last second went for it,” Galicia said. “I was waiting for it.”
After being contained for most of the night, Nuñez ended the night with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, putting him very close to the 1,000-yard mark. The senior said at least two Lion defenders were on him all night. Nuñez said he and the offensive line had a pep talk and whatever was said, the holes were there in the end.
“I didn’t want to go without a dogfight,” Nuñez said. “Told them what to do and (we) came out with a win.”
Being in the situation a ton of times, Stumbaugh felt his team made plays when they needed to.
“We believe in our kids,” Stumbaugh said. “We tell them to play and you never know what’s gonna happen. In this district, you don’t want to start 0-1.”
Randy Rodriguez had a terrific game for La Feria as he ended with 146 yards while Esquivel threw for 170 yards and a 55-yard touchdown pass to Justin Lee Gonzales. Lions head coach Elifonso Esquivel knows his team fought hard and although his team came up in the short end, the first-year coach believes this district isn’t over yet.
“The winner of this district will be 3-1,” Esquivel said. “It’s tough, it could’ve gone either way. Best games we’ve seen in our area.”
http://www.rgvsports.com/articles/nuñez_714___article.xml/district_extra.html