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Y• * , V* Star photo by Paul ConatzerCOACHING: Port Isabel coach Tony Vil-arreal talks to one his players.Tarpons ready for unbeaten InglesideBy PAUL CONATZERValley Morning StarPORT ISABEL - The intensity was obvious at Port Isabel’s Wednesday afternoon practice.It was intensity born of being a 30-point favorite, who had to rely on a last second touchdown pass to advance in to the next round of the playoffs.“We’ve had a good week of practice,” said wide receiver/defensive back Gilbert Verduzco, who hauled in the winning pass in the Tarpons’ 26-22 comeback win over San Diego in the bidistrict round of the playoffs. “We play to the level of our opponents.”PI head coach Tony Villarreal concurs with his senior's analysis.“Our kids don’t respect a 6-4ball club. They just don’t get pumped up,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to harp on it. And, you’re not going to be disappointed on Friday night.”And the District 32-3A cochampion Tarpons (10-0-1) will need to be intense when they meet District 30-3A champ Ingleside (11-0) in an area round playoff game at 8 tonight in Falfur-rias.The Harris Rating System hasthe Tarpons as seven-point underdogs, something that doesn’t happen a whole lot to PI.Quarterback Adam Brewer hopes the Mustangs take the Tarpons lightly.“It’s good for us when people overlook us,” he said. “And say we are not as good as people say.”Ingleside head coach Larry Peel doesn’t take the Tarpons lightly.“We need to find a chink intheir armor,” Peel said. “They’vegot good size, good speed and lots of tradition. They play straight ahead football and challenge you to try and stop them.”Peel, who was the third Mustang coach in three years when he took over, has taken Ingleside to the playoffs for the first time since 1964.“For success, you need some stability,” he said. “You have to have good athletes and the kids have to want to win.”The Mustangs offense focuses on running back Bubba Jackson (1,834 yards and 23 TDs) and averages 257 yards a game on the ground.“He has a great outside-inside move,” Villarreal said of Jackson. “We are going to have to keep someone at home to watch him. But, he’s not as fast as Derick Logan (Marine Military Academy’s back).”Logan rushed for 144 yards against PI, but the Tarpons won the game 19-14.PI averages 270 yards on the ground and spreads the attackaround.Peel’s son Ryan has thrown for 1,033 yards, 14 scores and has been intercepted twice.Both Peel and Villarreal believe the Tarpon secondary will play a big role in the game.“They are big and fast,” Peel said. “We haven’t seen that caliber of athletes in one backfield all season.”Villarreal believes the Tarpons secondary of Verduzco, Luke Keller and Eric Galvan will make it difficult to for the Mustangs to pass.“I wouldn’t like to throw against our secondary.”The winner of the game faces the winner of the Cuero/Giddings contest in the next round.
Newspaper Details
Valley Morning Star
Harlingen, Texas, US
Fri, Nov 24, 1995
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
John M.
USA 16 May 2020
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