By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds didn’t get off to the start they wanted when TAPPS district competition began last week.
The Bloodhounds (4-2, 0-1 district) will try to rectify that situation during their second TAPPS district game against San Antonio St. Anthony (1-5, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Canales Field.
“I think we’re ready to bounce back and get on the winning side,” SJA coach Christian Putegnat said. “We’ve ironed out some things and had a busy week of practice.”
The Bloodhounds are coming off last Friday’s 42-22 loss at home to San Antonio Christian in their TAPPS opener. St. Anthony suffered a 55-14 district setback last Friday at San Antonio Central Catholic.
The only win thus far on the season for the Yellow Jackets was a 34-7 triumph over Marble Falls Faith Academy on Sept. 19.
“They’re a typical San Antonio (TAPPS) team,” Putegnat said of St. Anthony. “They like to throw the ball a little more than run. Their record’s not all that good, but they’re still a good team. We still have to step up our game.”
The Bloodhounds once again hope to field a productive offense that has been moving the ball with freshman quarterback Kai Money calling the signals and sophomore running back Mario Garcia sparking an emerging ground game.
Money and Garcia rushed for 135 and 83 yards, respectively, last week, and Money threw for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On the season, Money has rushed for 695 yards and seven TDs and thrown for 969 yards (83 of 161 passing) with 11 TDs. Garcia is second on the team in rushing with 525 yards and six TDs.
Daniel Matar, a senior inside linebacker, is a playmaking tackler for the SJA defense.
The Bloodhounds will be going against a St. Anthony ballclub with senior Henry Sanchez at QB. Against Central Catholic last week, Sanchez went 0 for 6 passing with two interceptions while leading his team in rushing with 61 yards and one score.
When the Bloodhounds and Yellow Jackets played last year in Brownsville, SJA came away with a 62-48 victory.
After facing St. Anthony, SJA next plays at Austin St. Michael’s on Oct. 24.