Raymondville Brings Firepower. Port Isabel Brings Problems. Three Questions for Friday Night

Raymondville can score.

Port Isabel can make a football game uncomfortable.

That feels like a better place to start than staring at 2-0 versus 1-1.

The Bearkats have dropped 46 on Harlingen South and 63 on St. Joseph Academy. Jeffrey LeFevre has been dangerous with his arm and legs. Anthony Gonzales can hurt you outside. Cejay Orozco and Omar Garcia give Raymondville multiple ways to run it.

Port Isabel has receipts too.

Logan Bennett already has three interceptions. Michael Finona is averaging 7.5 tackles per game. Jerry Troncoso and Jahi Vasquez have already shown they can make quarterbacks uncomfortable.

So this isn’t about whether Port Isabel can survive Raymondville.

It’s about which team makes the other adjust first.

1. Can Port Isabel make Jeffrey LeFevre uncomfortable?

There’s actual proof they can create disruption.

Bennett picked off three passes against Palmview. One helped set PI up at the Palmview 34 and another was returned to the 9 before the Tarpons scored two plays later. Troncoso blocked an extra point and ended Palmview’s final possession with a sack.

And this group has history.

Last season, Vasquez recorded four sacks. Troncoso had three sacks and six quarterback hurries. Finona added 2.5 sacks and forced four fumbles.

LeFevre has earned respect too.

Against Harlingen South, he threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 166 more. He also threw two interceptions, so PI will study those snaps.

But he still produced 447 total yards and helped Raymondville win 46-45.

Port Isabel isn’t waiting for him to make a mistake.

Make the pocket crowded. Make him reset. Make a quarterback who has already shown he can take over a game work for everything.

2. Who controls the ground game?

Raymondville has been nasty here.

LeFevre is averaging 118.5 rushing yards per game.

Orozco is at 90. Garcia is at 87. Against St. Joseph, Garcia went for 115 yards and three touchdowns while Orozco added 100 and another score.

But PI isn’t exactly allergic to running the football.

Grayson Estes scored twice on keepers against Palmview, then carried 19 times for 71 yards against Rio Hondo. Ivan Medina also ripped off a 51-yard touchdown against Palmview.

Port Isabel also returned experience in the backfield with Jesus Ramos, Angel Dominguez, Elijah Alvarez, Bryan Ramirez and Finona.

So flip the question.

Can Raymondville get PI off schedule?

Because if the Tarpons live in second-and-5 and third-and-2, this thing starts moving at Tarpon speed.

3. Who makes the defense pay for adding an extra hat?

Eventually somebody is going to commit another body to the box.

That’s when the fun starts.

If PI squeezes down on LeFevre, Orozco and Garcia, Gonzales is waiting outside. He caught nine passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns against Harlingen South and already has three receiving touchdowns this season.

But Raymondville has to respect PI’s counterpunch too.

Estes is mobile, experienced and capable of creating when the picture changes. Bryan Ramirez already caught an 11-yard pass on PI’s opening touchdown drive against Palmview.

This isn’t about somebody getting “exposed.”

It’s about forcing a defense to choose.

Help inside, risk something outside.

Stay light, and somebody may run through your front.

DITV TAKE

Raymondville deserves the attention. You don’t accidentally score 109 points in two games.

But don’t turn Port Isabel into the extra in Raymondville’s movie.

Bennett can steal possessions. Finona can make plays in the box. Troncoso and Vasquez have proven they can create pressure. Estes can move the chains.

Raymondville wants space.

Port Isabel wants pressure, possession and physical football.

Friday night isn’t about which group of kids fails.

It’s about which team adjusts faster when the other one lands the first punch.

DITV Game of the Week
Raymondville at Port Isabel


Friday, Sept. 11 | 7 p.m. | Tarpon Stadium

Stats verified through MaxPreps, Port Isabel-South Padre Press and team/season records through Sept. 4, 2026.