Port Isabel Tarpons

The Port Isabel Tarpons is the city's official high school football club. It is a force to reckon with in football, ubiquitous in both statewide and regional competitions. The club was formed in 2005 with Monty Stumbaugh as Head Coach, Wade Birchum in the Defense and Jake Hofstetter in the Offense. The initial year was a good showing with a win-lost card of 5-7 for its Varsity team, 6-4 for its Junior Varsity and the Freshman team's stellar performance of 9-1.

The following year, the squad already advanced into the playoffs, going two rounds deeper. After an exciting 2006, the team improved drastically especially in the offense and defense departments so that ardent followers of the Texas high school football league can't help but stand up and take notice. The team may still be relatively young but it is certainly more experienced now and has gained a large following.

The Tarpons' roster of youthful players include quarterback David Alaniz and the offensive block of Ralph Valdez, Diego Garcia, James Delgado and Gustavo Alvarez, to name a few. The defense side is manned by Jason Dutton, Gilmer Flores and R.J. Villareal, among others.

The Tarpon pride is now a distinct part of the local psyche. The team is one of the well-supported clubs among the so-called football valley teams comprising the entire Rio Grande area in the Texas state like Raymondville, Rio Hondo, La Feria, Hidalgo and Pharr Valley View, all with a burning desire to bring pride to their hometowns. With the team's discipline, skills and experience, the support of the Port Isabel locales and encouragement of the Valley community, Port Isabel Tarpons has a very good chance of realizing every Valley team's ultimate dream of bagging the State championship. Go Tarpons!