Dec/4 spts. Port Isabel conquers Tarpons down Bandera 24-11
By ANDREW DuBOIS
Herald Sports Writer
#KINGSVILLE -- Port Isabel thrived on its vaunted power running game and
swarming defense to conjure up memories of 1981.
Related story, Page 4D
The Tarpons pounded out 344 yards rushing and yielded only 63 on the ground as
they advanced to the semifinals with a 24-11 victory over Bandera Saturday
night at Javelina Stadium.
It is the farthest Port Isabel has advanced since a 25-14 semifinal loss to
Cameron Yoe in 1981.
"At this stage, I'm always numb," PI coach Tony Villarreal said of the
emotional victory.
The Tarpons (13-0-1) will face Sealy (14-0) in the semifinals. The time and
place have yet to be determined.
Jimmy Gonzalez and Gilbert Verduzco shined under the lights for PI fans.
Gonzalez rushed 20 times for 136 yards and two scores. He also caught a
touchdown pass.
Verduzco intercepted two passes late in the game to seal the win. He also made
some key receptions on offense.
Fullback Eddie Stamps may have been the unsung hero, however. Stamps rushed 14
times for 95 yards and set up the successful runs of Gonzalez and Ed Francois
(13 carries, 87 yards).
"Eddie Stamps was the difference on offense," Villarreal said.
Port Isabel marched 50 yards for a touchdown on the team's opening possession.
PI benefited from an incomplete pass on a fake punt by Bandera and took
advantage of the good field position.
The 11-play drive chewed 5:08 off the clock. Quarterback Gabe Villarreal
completed a fourth-and-8 pass to Verduzco, keeping the drive going. On
fourth-and-1 from the Bulldogs' 7-yard line, Gonzalez scored on a pitch right.
Villarreal's pitch was behind Gonzalez, who did a 360-degree high-stepping
circle to gain control of the ball before racing into the end zone. Oscar Del
Abra's conversion kick gave the Tarpons a 7-0 lead with 4:57 left in the
opening quarter.
PI managed only a 7-3 lead at intermission despite outgaining Bandera 162-52
yards in the first half.
Bandera capitalized on an Eddie Stamps fumble to set up its first score.
Linebacker James Lico recovered the ball at the Bandera 49-yard line. 12 plays
later, Kyle Woodland booted a 38-yard field goal to cut into the Tarpons'
lead.
PI squandered a first-half scoring opportunity after gaining a first down at
the Bulldogs' 34-yard line. After three unsuccessful running plays and an
incomplete pass, Bandera took over at its own 31.
Port Isabel jumped out 17-3 on its first two possessions of the second half.
On the opening drive, Del Abra capped a 12-play drive with a 25-yard field.
Gonzalez caught a 9-yard TD pass from Villarreal the next go-round. Verduzco
adjusted on an underthrown pass by Villarreal and made a circus grab. The play
went for 28 yards and set PI up at Bandera's 12. The score gave PI a 14-point
lead with 11:55 in the game and seemed to have shut the door on Bandera.
The Bulldogs (12-1-1) marched right back, however, scoring on their next
series.
Woodland hooked up with Matt Mazurek on a 12-yard scoring pass and the same
combination connected for the two-point conversion. PI's lead was cut to 17-11
with 8:07 remaining.
"We planned on passing more," Bandera coach Mike Williamson said. "We just
weren't hitting."
Woodland completed just three of eight first-half passes for 21 yards. After
intermission, he completed five passes for 104 yards. After Bandera's defense
held the Tarpons, Woodland found Jason Hearn for a 38-yard pass to PI's
45-line and the comeback looked to be on.
That's when Verduzco and Gonzalez stepped up their game to another level.
Verduzco intercepted a pass on the next play to thwart Bandera's threat. Three
players later, Gonzalez burst loose fora 53-yard TD jaunt and athe 24-11 score
with 1:54 to play.
After the kickoff, Verduzco picked off the next pass and the game was
virtually over. Both of Verduzco's interceptions came in one-on-one coverage
against Hearn (5 receptions, 65 yards), Bandera's big-play threat.
"We knew they would go to 87 (Hearn)," Villarreal said. "We put our best
guy (Verduzco) on him.".
