Current PI squad ranks with the best
In an interview last week, Gabriel Alvarez, Port Isabels senior quarterback, was reluctant to say the current Tarpon squad should be grouped with the PI teams of 1994 and 1981 that reached the state semifinals.
"Not until we do what they did," he said.
Then came Saturday.
PIs 63-61 victory in four overtimes over Altair Rice Consolidated in the Class 3A Division II state quarterfinals more than proved that this years Tarpon team deserves to be mentioned as one of the best ballclubs PI has ever produced.
In fact, considering the determination and composure displayed by the Tarpons in repeatedly battling back to overcome a bigger, faster opponent that was favored by three touchdowns, their 63-61 thriller with its 11 lead changes and four ties without a doubt qualifies as one of the Valleys all-time best playoff performances.
For the multitude of fans PIs plus those from across the Valley who showed up to support the Tarpons in San Antonio, it was a magical experience.
It even got a little emotional for those supposedly always objective Valley sportswriters, who let a shout of approval slip out once or twice when PI scored.
"It was a game that was historic for Valley fans," said longtime PI football announcer Gualberto Gonzalez, who is also the Tarpons booster club president.
"In each (playoff) game this team has come up to the level it needed to play at to win," he added.
For the record, Saturday wasnt the first time a Valley team went four OTs in the football playoffs. That distinction belongs to Rivera. In 1996, the Raiders battled Victoria High through four OTs before falling 44-38 in the area playoffs at Corpus Christi.
The good news for PI and the entire Valley is that the playoff magic continues. The Tarpons (10-3) next face Marlin (10-4) in the state semifinals at 8 p.m. Saturday in San Antonios Alamodome. Marlin advanced by knocking off previously unbeaten Bellville 19-17.
Prior to the PI-Marlin game, Schertz Clemens meets Katy at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in a Class 5A Division II state semifinal.
The Tarpons now have an opportunity to achieve something that even PIs 94 and 81 teams werent able to do reach the state final. The last time a Valley public school team made it that far was 1962 and 63 when the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Bears advanced to the title game in back-to-back seasons only to come up short both times.
"Were going to try to make history," PI running back Misael "Missile" Iracheta said. "The Tarpons are not going to give up. If they beat us, theyre going to beat us because they are the better team and not because we gave up."
Tarpon left tackle Ramon Lopez summed up his feelings by saying: "When all this is over and I hope its not soon Im going to miss these guys and Ill miss all this."
A pep rally for the Tarpons is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Tarpon Stadium and everyone is welcome, Gonzalez said.
