(Port Isabel, Texas)-The Port Isabel Tarpons football program is on the rise as they take on Jarrell High School this weekend. Here are the highlights/projections from all Class 4A teams from the Rio Grande Valley-South Texas regions.
Class 4A DI
15-4A La Vernia 9-2 vs 14-4A Somerset 9-2
16-4A Calallen 11-0 vs 13-4A Davenport 10-1
Winners Meet in Regional Finals
The “Golden Boy” and former NFL Philadelphia Eagles QB Koy Detmer, now Somerset head football coach, leads his Bulldogs against the La Vernia Bears while Calallen will take on Davenport. Detmer has his Bulldogs outscoring its opponents 403-186 with notable wins over SA Southside (23-14) and SA Antonio Memorial (70-0).
As for the Calallen Wildcats? Longtime defensive coordinator Steve Campbell took over the Wildcats football program after Phil Danaher retired from football as the winningest high school head football coach in Texas. At 11-0, the Wildcats will take on a tough Davenport Wolves team. The Wildcats will have to do two things: Stop QB 6’2 Triston Hamlin (2,340 yards passing) and RB Shastin Golden (1,938 yards rushing). Oh, and WRs David Miller (687 yards) and Kyler Payne (708 yards 16.5 avg).
HSSM Predictions: Davenport by 12 over Calallen; Somerset by 9 over La Vernia
Class 4A DII
13-4A Wimberley 11-0 vs 15-4A Orange Grove 7-4
13-4A Jarrell 5-6 vs 16-4A Port Isabel 9-2
Friday, Odem HS 7:30 p.m.
Winners meets in Regional Finals
“Unbelievable,” said Port Isabel High School head football coach, Tony Villarreal as they defeated Ingleside 28-13 on Friday night in the first round of the State 4A DII playoffs. This win marks the second straight season that the Tarpons has won back-to-back 4A DII Bi-District titles.
The Tarpons will take on Jarrell (5-6) on Friday night at Odem HS on Friday night in the University Interscholastic League 4A Division II Area Championships. Kickoff off is set for 7:30 p.m. Head coach Villarreal took over the Tarpons football program during the COVID-19 epidemic from 2020 and since, has won 18 games in two and half seasons, including one district title and two bi-district championships to give the legendary coach, 217 career wins.
The Tarpons will have to rely on its defense (19 QB Sacks, 8 INTs) to stop Jarrell QB Andrew Knebel (2,279 yards passing). Can the Tarpons take another step towards a state title? “We match up well against Jarrell. That win over Ingleside was huge for our program and now, we will focus on our next game,” added Villarreal.
Offensively, the Slot-T Tarpons are really good. “Each week our team has matured and I’m proud of our staff and team,” says Villarreal. PI senior quarterback Misael Barrera (509 yards rushing) will lead his team along with Andrew LeBlanc (468 yards), Luis Ramos (629 yards), and Tristan Garcia (465 yards).
If the Tarpons are thinking state title, the road to state will probably go through Wimberely HS as they meet Orange Grove. The Texans has outscored its opponents 478-135 and are led by sophomore QB 5’10 Cody Stoever (1,664 yards passing 131 carries 794 yards rushing). He has passed to 18 different receivers this season too.
HSSM Predictions: Wimberly by 35 over Orange Grove; Port Isabel by 21 over Jarrell.
15-4A Sinton 8-3 vs 13-4A Lago Vista 8-4
16-4A Bishop 6-5 vs 13-4A Navarro 7-4
Winners meet in Regional Finals
HSSM Predictions: Lago Vista by 17 over Sinton Navarro by 40 over Bishop.