The Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds’ season hinged on a fourth-and-10 from their own 20-yard line with only 4:20 left at Canales Field.
The Bloodhounds failed to convert, turning the ball over to The Woodlands Christian Academy.
The Warriors padded their lead on the next play to go up 28-14 and went on to win 28-21 on Saturday in a bi-district playoff meeting.
“I tell the kids all the time, they win games, I lose them,” Brownsville St. Joseph head coach Tino Villarreal said. “The kids fought hard, they gave everything they had, gave us their heart, and I am very proud of the phenomenal season they gave us.”
The Bloodhounds had a chance for some of their late magic after Ethan Gallegos connected with Claudio Torres for a 60-yard score, but the onside kick wiggled past everyone and rolled out.
“We always say it is not over. We overcame a lot of situations that were a bit closer than this,” Gallegos said. “I do not know what to say. It was a good season, and the ball did not bounce our way.”
Gallegos, fresh off of winning the Built Ford Tough Private School Texas Football Player of the Week, helped give the Bloodhounds life on the final play of the third quarter when he found receiver Torres open down the seam of the Warriors’ defense.
Torres’ 30-yard touchdown reception cut the Warriors’ lead to 21-14.
Woodlands Christian grabbed the lead in the third. Warriors running back Ryan Leslie followed a 3-yard touchdown run with a 30-yard touchdown run to put his team up 21-7. Leslie finished with four rushing touchdowns.
The Warriors had chances to go into the locker room with a lead, but a fumble, three missed field goals and a goal-line stand by the Hounds kept the score tied at 7.
Gallegos found Adrian Del Pozo behind the defense for the first points of the game. Woodlands Christian responded with a touchdown on the next offensive snap. Leslie took a sweep 68 yards for the score.
The Bloodhounds finished the season 8-3 overall and 6-1 in TAPPS Division II District 3.
“There is nothing like it,” Del Pozo said. “It is more than just friends, it is a brotherhood, it is a family. Everyone is so tight, loves each other and has everyone’s back. There is nothing like St. Joseph football.”