On paper, Brownsville St. Joseph and Edinburg Economedes shared quite a few similarities heading into Friday’s non-district contest at Canales Stadium in Brownsville.
Both teams started the season 3-0 before losing their respective contests last week. At home (2-0) and on the road (1-1) both had posted identical records. And as far as their offensive approach, each has overwhelming favored the run this year.
That’s where the commonalities ended, however. St. Joseph opened the game Friday with two unanswered touchdowns and never looked back on its way to a 51-21 victory — its highest scoring output of the season, so far.
“When you suffer a loss like we did last week, it’s all about the small victories,” coach Tino Villarreal Jr. said. “Trying to line up right, trying to get first downs, trying to force three-and-outs — just small victories. I think that was the big theme tonight.”
On the heels of a 54-14 loss to Austin Regents last week, the Bloodhounds dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in this week’s RGVSports.com Sub-5A Top 4 poll, relinquishing the top spot to Port Isabel, which took its first loss of the year Friday to No. 9 Edcouch-Elsa.
Given those outcomes, it’s difficult to tell how next week’s poll will shake out. But the Bloodhounds certainly did their part to wipe away the residue from their first loss of the year in Week 4.
Junior quarterback Gavin Cisneros was the catalyst Friday, rushing for two scores and throwing for another as the Bloodhounds improved to 4-1 with two more non-district contests left — against La Feria and Port Isabel — before they begin TAPPS Division II, District III action Oct. 25 against Victoria St. Joseph. They later face San Antonio Christian and Victoria St. Anthony, respectively.
The Bloodhounds also benefitted greatly from the return of two big playmakers in receivers Andre Cristiano and Claudio Torres, both back from injuries.
“Andre opens up offense,” Villarreal said. “Right off the bat, we knew were going to be able to move the football. We didn’t have to punt tonight, and that was a big difference-maker.”
As for Torres, he’s carried the ball 58 times for 479 yards and eight touchdowns heading into Friday despite limited action. During his return Friday, he made his presence felt again.
“He’s been a workhorse for us,” Villarreal said. “He gets all the touches, he gets most of our stats.
“For us, our job is to get creative and get him the football.”
For Economedes, this marked the final tuneup before beginning a five-game District 31-6A slate against Edinburg North on Oct. 11. It has a bye next week.
Without Johan Nunez, its leading back, Economedes struggled to get much going offensively. The Jaguars brought it within 30-21 during the third quarter before the Bloodhounds responded with three unanswered touchdowns to finish.
Through four games, Nunez has rushed 44 times for 431 yards and four touchdowns.
The Jags lost 31-17 last week to Brownsville Pace, which entered this week 4-0 and ranked No. 8 in the latest RGVSports.com 5A/6A Top 10 poll. It has been a strong showing so far for the Jags, who have finished each of the past two seasons 1-9 overall.
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