By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds returned to the win column in a big way with Friday’s 68-6 victory against the Hidalgo Pirates at Canales Field.
The Bloodhounds were coming off last week’s 33-27 setback at home to the Port Isabel Tarpons in a matchup of unbeaten teams.
Thanks to three touchdown passes and two scoring runs by SJA quarterback Kai Money, the Bloodhounds surged to a 34-6 advantage by halftime.
Money finished the night by rushing for 180 yards and three TDs while passing for 120 yards and four scores. Three of Money’s TD passes went to wideout Bernie de la Garza.
SJA’s first two TDs came on first-quarter runs of 49 and 35 yards by Money. The junior QB then tossed a 32-yard scoring pass to de la Garza to give the Bloodhounds an 18-0 lead before the end of the opening period.
In the second quarter, after a safety for SJA and a 63-yard TD reception by Hidalgo’s Marco Bella, Money threw a 13-yard TD pass to Andres Martinez and a 15-yard scoring aerial to de la Garza to make it 34-6 at intermission.
Missed conversions after first-quarter TDs, penalties and at times a lack of focus
drew the ire of SJA coach Tino Villarreal and he passed along a stern message to his team at the break.
“I was not happy at halftime,” Villarreal said. “We’ve been having issues all year long of just playing some sloppy football. We came out here and did the exact same thing tonight for one half.
“I just feel it’s my job to tell these players not to play that type of sloppy football if we plan to make a run at the district title and if we plan to win a playoff game,” Villarreal added. “I thought we had a great second half. We were able to get a lot of (reserve) players in there who needed the reps. We executed a lot better in the second half and kept the penalties to a minimum.”
Money came back in the third quarter to score on a 12-yard run and toss a 5-yard TD pass to de la Garza as the lead increased to 48-6.
Also in the third period, SJA’s Mario Garcia rushed 5 and 50 yards for a pair of TDs
for a 61-6 Bloodhounds’ lead going into the final quarter. A 15-yard run with 7:21 left by SJA reserve QB Carlos Esteve accounted for the Bloodhounds’ last score.
SJA had three backs hit triple digits rushing as Money gained 180, Garcia 122 and Anthony Cantu 100.
Villarreal said Money has been dealing with an injury but appeared to be pretty healthy against the Pirates.
“Kai had the ‘Eye of the Tiger’ back, and that’s what we like to see,” the SJA coach said.
SJA now goes into its bye week with a 5-1 record as it prepares for the start of TAPPS district competition later this month. The Bloodhounds have one more non-district game Oct. 14 at home against Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy.
Hidalgo fell to 1-5 with its fifth straight loss. The Pirates lost 59-0 at home last week to Rockport-Fulton. They’ll try to get back on track next Friday at Kingsville King in a District 16-4A Division I opener.
There was a somber mood at Canales Field on Friday as the school mourned the death earlier in the week of longtime teacher Olga Borrego, who also had three children attend SJA.
“She was a phenomenal teacher and even better friend,” Villarreal said. “That may have been a factor in how we started off playing tonight. The students and faculty have been down this week. It’s always good to get a win for the (late teacher’s) family and for everyone, actually. Left wrists were taped black, and that was for her.
“We just want to wish the family the best,” he added. “As a team we’ve been praying for her and for all family members who have lost a special person.”