Rio Hondo Bobcats wide receiver Isaiah Valladarez, a junior, is pictured during recent football action at Bobcat Stadium. (Photo by T.J. Tijerina)
NEWS Staff Report
RIO HONDO – District 32-3A is anybody’s ballgame. Literally.
With the Hidalgo Pirates, La Feria Lions, Port Isabel Tarpons and Rio Hondo Bobcats each only displaying a single blemish on their district record, week nine action in the Rio Grande Valley will be crucial.
Throw into the mix an annual rivalry (more like a grudge match) that usually determines these 32-3A titles and you’ve got the makings for a barnburner.
That’s right, the Rio Hondo Bobcats face the Port Isabel Tarpons on Friday.
The Bobcats (5-3 overall, 1-1 in district) come in after a much-needed week’s rest following a tough but motivational victory over the Pirates. Tough because the ’Cats had just lost star quarterback Juan Puga the week prior to injury for the rest of the season, and motivational due to the team coming together and dispatching Hidalgo, 19-15, despite being banged up.
The Tarpons (6-3 overall, 2-1 in district) didn’t have the same luck their last time on the football field. The same Pirates sailed into Tarpon Stadium last Friday night on a mission and slowed Port Isabel’s district-leading rushing attack to prove that they had one of their own. It was mission accomplished on both counts as Hidalgo won the game, 16-12, and put themselves back in the thick of the 32-3A title hunt.
In Rio Hondo’s win over Hidalgo, Sergio Perez – backup to Puga – stepped in and filled the QB shoes quite nicely, but he wasn’t alone as the black and gold’s rushing attack of RJ Vega and Hernan Guerrero also got things going.
Against Hidalgo, the Tarpons made mistakes that were key to the Pirates’ upset win over PI. The Pirates ran 21 plays in the third period and took over 11 minutes off the clock before turning the ball over on an interception. Ball control troubles continued to haunt the Tarps that game, despite Hidalgo being out rushed by Port Isabel, 204 yards to 150.
Rest assured, the Tarpons will be back on their game come kick-off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. The Bobcats, however, have home-field advantage as the game will be played in Rio Hondo.
Editor’s Note: Sportswriter Larry Gage contributed to this report.
Read this story in the Oct. 31 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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