footballgal
12-12-2003, 09:35 AM
Category: High School Football
Valley pride with Port Isabel
By Tim Skaggs
Special to the Express-News
Web Posted : 12/12/2003 12:00 AM
Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh probably spent as much time this week trying to keep his team focused on the task at hand as he did going over game plans.
After all, it's not every year that a Rio Grande Valley football team challenges for a state title. And when a team does threaten to end the region's drought, dating back 41 years, the game's outcome is the primary topic of conversation for local residents.
"It's been kind of crazy around here, " Stumbaugh said. "(The players) know that an awful lot of people's hopes and dreams are involved.
"But the kids are also playing this game first for their own hopes and dreams, to represent the city and school, and then, in a sense, for the whole Valley."
Port Isabel (10-3) takes on Marlin (10-4) in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
Port Isabel, ousted in the semifinals in 1981 and 1994, is trying to become the first Valley football team to reach a state final since 1962, when Corsicana beat Pharr-San Juan-Alamo for the 3A title. The last team to win a state title from the Valley was Donna, which took the 2A crown in 1961.
The Tarpons are brimming with confidence after last week's 63-61 victory over Rice Consolidated in a four-overtime thriller at Alamo Stadium, the highest-scoring playoff game in UIL history.
The combined total of 124 points eclipsed the previous record of 122, set in 1994 when Austin Westlake beat Clark 80-42.
The PI-Rice Consolidated game had 11 lead changes — and the emotional highs and lows that went with them.
Stumbaugh said he sees the marathon victory as an advantage for his team.
"They now know how to survive way longer than four quarters," he said. "And they know they are capable of doing whatever they have to do to win the game."
Port Isabel also proved it could put up big numbers offensively. Misael Iracheta, for example, rushed for 202 yards against Rice.
"It's nice to still be playing and we feel like the whole Valley is supporting us," Iracheta said.
Junior linebacker Frankie Herrera, the team's leading tackler with 173, said he understands that for all the positive support they receive from fans — inside and outside the Valley — there also will be some pessimists who dwell on the region's past.
He said he's heard about how Port Isabel's 1994 team could have gone up 14-0 in the first quarter against eventual champion Sealy, before a penalty wiped out a touchdown. He's also heard from people that believe the Tarpons lost their composure after an interception on the next play in the 34-7 loss.
Senior offensive tackle Omar Torres said he knows about the potential naysayers.
"It just makes us want to get to the big show (more)," Torres said. "And it's not like we don't know we have a dangerous opponent."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sports@express-news.net
12/12/2003
Valley pride with Port Isabel
By Tim Skaggs
Special to the Express-News
Web Posted : 12/12/2003 12:00 AM
Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh probably spent as much time this week trying to keep his team focused on the task at hand as he did going over game plans.
After all, it's not every year that a Rio Grande Valley football team challenges for a state title. And when a team does threaten to end the region's drought, dating back 41 years, the game's outcome is the primary topic of conversation for local residents.
"It's been kind of crazy around here, " Stumbaugh said. "(The players) know that an awful lot of people's hopes and dreams are involved.
"But the kids are also playing this game first for their own hopes and dreams, to represent the city and school, and then, in a sense, for the whole Valley."
Port Isabel (10-3) takes on Marlin (10-4) in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
Port Isabel, ousted in the semifinals in 1981 and 1994, is trying to become the first Valley football team to reach a state final since 1962, when Corsicana beat Pharr-San Juan-Alamo for the 3A title. The last team to win a state title from the Valley was Donna, which took the 2A crown in 1961.
The Tarpons are brimming with confidence after last week's 63-61 victory over Rice Consolidated in a four-overtime thriller at Alamo Stadium, the highest-scoring playoff game in UIL history.
The combined total of 124 points eclipsed the previous record of 122, set in 1994 when Austin Westlake beat Clark 80-42.
The PI-Rice Consolidated game had 11 lead changes — and the emotional highs and lows that went with them.
Stumbaugh said he sees the marathon victory as an advantage for his team.
"They now know how to survive way longer than four quarters," he said. "And they know they are capable of doing whatever they have to do to win the game."
Port Isabel also proved it could put up big numbers offensively. Misael Iracheta, for example, rushed for 202 yards against Rice.
"It's nice to still be playing and we feel like the whole Valley is supporting us," Iracheta said.
Junior linebacker Frankie Herrera, the team's leading tackler with 173, said he understands that for all the positive support they receive from fans — inside and outside the Valley — there also will be some pessimists who dwell on the region's past.
He said he's heard about how Port Isabel's 1994 team could have gone up 14-0 in the first quarter against eventual champion Sealy, before a penalty wiped out a touchdown. He's also heard from people that believe the Tarpons lost their composure after an interception on the next play in the 34-7 loss.
Senior offensive tackle Omar Torres said he knows about the potential naysayers.
"It just makes us want to get to the big show (more)," Torres said. "And it's not like we don't know we have a dangerous opponent."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sports@express-news.net
12/12/2003