By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
St. Joseph Academy got off to a fast start offensively, and the defense and special teams followed suit during a 62-0 defeat of Pharr Oratory in the Holy Bowl on Friday night at Canales Field in Brownsville.
The Bloodhounds got two quick rushing touchdowns from Mario Garcia and Kai Money, and then added two more scores on a punt block return by Joey Navarro and an interception return by Sean Cantu to race to a 32-0 lead during the first quarter.
“We had a pretty well rounded game tonight,” St. Joseph coach Christian Putegnat said. “We still have a lot to work on. It’s you versus yesterday, but we’ll take the win and get ready for a solid opponent next week.”
In the first, after Garcia broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run, Money scored from 7 yards out on the next drive.
The Bloodhounds defense and special teams got in the mix with a punt blocked by Daniel Matar that was returned 38 yards by Navarro for another touchdown. Right before the end of the quarter, the Ocelots were trying to convert a fourth down, but quarterback Fernando Cavazos’ pass was picked by Cantu and returned 52 yards for another score.
During the second quarter, Money hit Dave Lapeyre on a 35-yard strike, and a couple of minutes later, found Jorge De La Garza on a 37-yard pass for a pair of touchdowns. Conner Pace replaced Money toward the end of the half and hit Bernie De La Garza on a 52-yard catch and run to score another touchdown right before the half and the Bloodhounds held a 53-0 lead at the break.
“It’s a tough loss because we’ve been working really hard and finally got where we want to be,” Pharr Oratory coach Xavier Pruneda said. “It’s taking me this long, it’s my fourth year with the school. It’s been tough, we don’t have the numbers that St. Joseph’s has, but we’re a growing team.”
The Ocelots couldn’t get much going all evening against the tough Bloodhounds defense, finishing with 110 yards in total offense, 85 of those on the ground. When Pharr Oratory did move the ball, its drives often ended suddenly. Cavazos was intercepted three times and the Ocelots fumbled to give the ball back to the Bloodhounds on another drive.
“I told the kids, some day (we’ll get there),” Pruneda said. “It’s emotional because I wanted this for the seniors because this is the group I started off with. It’s not easy losing, but God put me here for a reason and I’m going to carry with cross with that. I changed my philosophy (in the offseason), be patient and good things will come to those who wait.”
In the fourth quarter, St. Joseph added a 24-yard touchdown run by Pace and later a 35-yard field goal by Money in the victory.
Money completed 5 of 9 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns and he ran for 20 yards on two carries and another score. Garcia rushed for 130 yards on seven carries and a touchdown for the Bloodhounds.
After earning the Holy Bowl trophy for the third consecutive season, Putegnat was already thinking about next week’s opponent.
“We’re confident, but not too confident,” he said. “We just have to be focused and keep doing what we do. Keep the tempo high and keep our defense running they way their running.
“It’s going to be a good game next week (against Port Isabel).”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.