STAFF REPORTS
The St. Joseph Bloodhounds received touchdowns from all three units in a 73-22 home victory over the Lyford Bulldogs on Friday at Canales Field.
After the Bloodhounds defense’ allowed 55 points last week to Raymondville, the unit returned three interceptions for touchdowns and held Lyford to just eight points by the end of the third quarter. Bernie de la Garza had a 98-yard kickoff return as special teams also got in on the scoring.
It also was the first win for new coach Tino Villarreal.
“It feels great,” he said. “Our kids have really put in some hard work, and for a while I could see some doubt in some of our kids in the program. We were able to piece three phases of the game together and get a real big win against a very good team. Lyford is a very good team, it just wasn’t their night.”
PORT ISABEL 13, RIO GRANDE CITY 7: At Rio Grande City, the Tarpons came out flat and had to come back in the second half to beat the Rattlers.
Port Isabel was down 7-3 at halftime after penalties wiped away a couple touchdowns and settled for a field goal by Williams Romero.
During the second half, the Tarpons came out as a different team. Carlos Orduna scored on a 12-yard rushing touchdown and Romero added another field goal for Port Isabel.
The Tarpons’ defense did the rest, including getting big stops on a sack and a fumble recovery to seal the win.
“We played hard, Rio Grande City played very physical,” Port Isabel coach Monty Stumbaugh said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we rose to the occasion when we had to and made some plays. I was really pleased with our kids, the way they came out in the second half.
“It was a very tough football game. Fortunately we were able to come out on top.”