Battle of Highway 100 kicks off season for Falcons, Tarpons

By ELADIO JAIMEZ
eladioj@valleystar.com
956-430-6285

LOS FRESNOS - It's a case of the shoe being on the other foot in the latest edition of the Battle of Highway 100.

Last year, the Port Isabel Tarpons entered the 2004 season a veteran club and pressured to live up to tremendous preseason hype.

On the other hand, the Los Fresnos Falcons were young and looking to just survive their first season in Class 5A.

What a difference a year makes.

This season, the Tarpons start the season on the green side as PI lost all but three starters from last year's playoff team while the Falcons are the seasoned group. After just one season in 32-5A, Los Fresnos is already picked to win the district.

One thing's for sure, though. Neither team wants to lose this game, the 58th installment of the famed contest.

Falcons head coach Scott Ford has downplayed the game before, his rationale being that intensity should be as high for this game as the rest of the season.

But he knows the communities love the game and expects a loud crowd tonight.

"The kids know what's at stake," Ford said. "It's big for the community and they get caught up in it. But we have to understand that it's a football game and we have to go out there to win a football game."

And the Falcons can't wait to get back on a football field.

Los Fresnos closed out it's two-game scrimmage slate with a setback to Edcouch-Elsa last week.

Ford hopes to see more intensity from his defense against the Tarpons tonight.

"I want the defense to play football tonight," Ford said. "The defense needs to step up. We need to do that to win and to be a playoff contender."

PI head coach Monty Stumbaugh feels the same way.

The Tarpons looked less than fair in a practice game against Mercedes last week, too.

After that game Stumbaugh was more concerned with the lack of intensity the Tarpons played with against the Tigers.

"We challenged the kids this week," Stumbaugh said. "We need to decide whether we want to play because we love the game or we're playing because we want a letterman jacket. If we're playing for the jacket we're in trouble."

Brandon Kretz leads the veteran Falcons. The senior quarterback makes his 14th straight varsity start, not counting scrimmages, and Ford said that his experience would show tonight.

"He's so much stronger," Ford said of Kretz. "His arm strength is a lot better and he's ready to take control of the offense."

And he's got some pretty talented guys to help him out.

At receiver, Venus Martinez, Esai Rivera and Chris Garza are good targets. And Luis Campos is a big weapon from the offensive backfield.

PI isn't so fortunate.

Esteban Delgadillo, Ralph Valdez and Frankie Espinoza are the only Friday night veterans the Tarpons boast on offense and defense.

Stumbaugh hopes his charges mature quick especially at quarterback where Carr Griener takes over for 2004 Valley Morning Star All-Valley MVP Lando Ochoa.

"I want to see how they respond," Stumbaugh said. "Win or lose, I want them to play hard. Some of these guys are playing on Friday night for the first time ever and I want to see how they handle it. We have to get after it."

Aug 26, 2005 - 09:31:31 CDT