Port Isabel falls to Bandera

By Russ Goodall

The Brownsville Herald

VICTORIA There arent that many Class 3A teams that throw the ball in the Rio Grande Valley and that hurt the Port Isabel defense in the first half Saturday. But in the second half, it was pure power football that did them in.

The Tarpons allowed Bandera 131 yards passing in the first half and 117 yards rushing in the second half as the Bulldogs knocked Port Isabel from the Class 3A Division II playoffs, 27-24, at Memorial Stadium in Victoria.

"We came out here and gave them everything," Port Isabel head coach Monty Stumbaugh said. "Our kids played hard."

The Bulldogs next will face the Yoakum Bulldogs, who defeated West Oso 14-7, in the Region IV final at a time and place yet to be determined.

The Bulldogs (10-3) amassed 310 total yards in the game, led by running back Dustin Heeps 134 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown.

The final numbers for the Tarpons (9-3) were just as impressive. PI gained a total of 286 yards, including 208 on the ground.

And like they have so many times this year, the Tarpons were led by the 1-2 punch of running backs Joey Loera and Johnny Nieto.

Loera, a senior, led the way with 98 yards on 20 carries, while Nieto, a sophomore, finished with 92 yards on 12 carries. Nieto ran for two TDs, while Loera threw for one in the loss.

"We are going to run the football," Stumbaugh said. "Johnny had the big run, but Gabriel and Joey had two great blocks that sprung him.

"Joey had a good day rushing the ball. When we didnt rush the ball well, we just missed assignments. We hurt them moving the ball, and we thought we could."

But while the running game was working well for PI, its defense and special teams had a couple of breakdowns, including an 81-yard TD pass and a blocked punt that Bandera recovered in the end zone for a TD.

"We told the kids that they could make a big play in a hurry," Stumbaugh said. "That blocked punt was a killer. You work on that stuff, and you tell your kids. But, they are kids and they are going to make mistakes."

The Tarpons took the opening kickoff and proceeded to drive the ball right down the gut of the Bandera defense.

PI marched 69 yards on 18 plays, none longer than a 9-yard run by Loera, to put the Tarpons on the board first. It was a 2-yard run up the middle by Nieto that got PI into the end zone. Erick Martinez added the extra point and the Tarpons had run 8:33 off the clock to take the lead, 7-0.

Banderas first possession was three-and-out, but on its next possession, the Bulldogs found their passing game.

After starting the game 0-for-3, Bulldogs quarterback Brett Hicks hit wingback Robert Iches on a middle shovel pass that split the Tarpons defense. Iches was able to click his heels out of a final diving sweep from behind by PI defensive back Joe Arevelo at around the PI 15 to scoot into the end zone standing up for an 81-yard TD reception. Scott Jennings added the extra point to tie the score with just under nine minutes to play in the first half.

"The (defense) played good," Stumbaugh said. "We worked on (pass defense) all week long. Our kid just bit on the move and they got behind us. Besides that, we played pretty good pass defense."

Jennings and Martinez then traded field goals from 27 and 23 yards, respectively. But with 1:03 to play in the second quarter, Jennings broke the tie with a 34-yard field goal, as the Bulldogs took a 13-10 lead into the locker room.

Hicks was just 3-of-10 for 131 yards, while the team rushed for 28 yards in the first half. Most of the Bandera yards came on the TD catch from Iches and a 42-yard reception by Chris Martinez.

The Tarpons kept the ball on the ground for the most part in the first half, rushing it 31 times for 103 yards and the score.

PI quarterback Gabriel Alvarez completed just 2-of-7 passes for 17 yards in the opening 24 minutes. The second half was a different story for the Bulldogs offense.

Bandera came out and ran Heep seven consecutive times, and eight of the first nine plays. The PI defense bent but didnt break as a fourth-down pass by Hicks fell incomplete.

The PI offense took over and needed just three plays to take back the lead. After 10- and 9-yard runs by Loera, Nieto took a pitch from Alvarez on second and one from the PI 39.

Nieto turned the corner on the sweep as he got a clear-out block from Alvarez to spring him for a 61-yard TD scamper. Martinez added the PAT and the Tarpons were in front again, 17-13.

After PI forced a Bandera punt, the Tarpons offense stalled.

On fourth and six from its 19, PI had its punt attempt blocked by A.J. Caza and recovered in the end zone by Caza for the score.

That played turned the momentum toward Bandera.

After another PI punt, the Bulldogs marched 77 yards on nine plays, with Heep finding his way into the end zone from 3 yards out. The PAT by Jennings put the Bulldogs in front by 10 points, 27-17.

"They got some big ole linemen, and they just kind of hammer on you," Stumbaugh said. "We didnt do a great job of tackling, but it didnt surprise me with them trying to run out the clock."

PI wouldnt quit though.

After both teams punted, the Tarpons got the ball on its 49 and wasted little time.

After a big completion from Alvarez to Misael Iracheta, Loera threw a halfback pass that was tipped and fell into the waiting arms of Fabian Herrera for a 21-yard TD. The PAT was good and the Tarpons were clinging to life down by three, 27-24.

The Tarpons missed on their onside kick, but held Bandera and forced a punt with 20 seconds on the clock.

But it was too little, too late as Alvarezs desperation heave fell incomplete to end the game and the Tarpons season.

The Tarpons lose 10 seniors off this team, including Loera.

"It is tough for the seniors," Stumbaugh said. "It is their last ballgame and some of them may not ever play again. I just cant say enough about our seniors. There arent a whole lot of them. But, they are good kids, they work hard and they lead by example. We just hope our younger kids can take their example and carry on what they have tried to start here."

Now two years into his tenure at PI, Stumbaugh has led the Tarpons two rounds deep into the playoffs in 2001 and now three rounds deep this year.

The foundation is now cemented again in Port Isabel, and in the end, Stumbaugh said it best to the team on the field after the game was over.

"I promise you, we will be back."