Ramirez's field goal lifts St. Joseph

LA VILLA — St. Joseph Academy broke into the win column for the first time this season thanks to Claudio Ramirez’s 33-yard field goal on the final play, one that gave the Bloodhounds a 25-24 non-district victory Friday at La Villa.

"I’ve been in (pressure) situations like that before, and it’s kind of scary," Ramirez said. "The best part’s after you do it and you score. Then you’re happy, and it’s an amazing feeling."

La Villa (1-2) had taken a 24-22 lead on Brandon Alaniz’s 72-yard punt return with 2:31 remaining.

SJA (1-2), led by Cesar Rodriguez’s 122 yards rushing and three touchdowns, rallied from an 18-8 first-half deficit.

The Cardinals spotted SJA an 8-0 lead when Rodriguez went up the middle for 2 yards and a touchdown with 9:22 showing in the opening quarter. Rodriguez rushed for the conversion. The score was set up by an interception by the Bloodhounds at midfield that gave them a first down at the La Villa 2-yard line.

La Villa answered on the ensuing kickoff with a 94-yard TD return by Alaniz at the 9:05 mark of the first period to pull the Cardinals to within 8-6. Alaniz returned a punt 45 yards for a TD with 6:57 remaining in the second quarter to give La Villa a 12-8 advantage.

The Cardinals went ahead 18-8 with 4:34 to go in the first half when Rico Garcia caught a 29-yard TD pass from Ricky Cantu. None of the Cardinals’ first-half conversion attempts were successful.

Rodriguez’s 59-yard run made it 18-15 with 10:58 showing in the third quarter and then gave his team a 22-18 lead with a 13-yard TD run with 18 seconds left in the third. Alaniz’s second punt return for a TD, the 72-yarder, gave the Cardinals a 24-22 advantage that stood up until Ramirez’s last-second field goal.

"This feels fantastic," first-year SJA coach Christian Putegnat said. "I have to admit that I was as nervous as everybody else. I know Claudio has the leg, and he’s got the power. We got a good snap and he had plenty of distance on his kick, so it was great."

Tony Contreras rushed for 128 yards for La Villa.

SJA snapped a 25-game losing streak by defeating La Villa 32-0 one year ago in Brownsville.

The Bloodhounds open TAPPS district action next Friday at San Antonio Antonian. The same night, La Villa continues its non-district schedule at San Diego.

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.