SANTA FE SPRINGS – The St. Paul football team came into Angelus League play riding a three-game losing streak but has since rattled off three consecutive wins, including a 31-2 win over Bishop Alemany on Friday night.
From start to finish, the Swordsmen (5-3, 3-0) dominated against a struggling Alemany (5-3, 0-3) team that has now dropped its first three league games to start.
St. Paul running back Marley Luatua was the go-to guy for the Swordsmen, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Luatua rushed for 93 yards and both touchdowns in the first half as the Swordsmen jumped out to a 24-2 lead at the half and didn’t look back.
St. Paul head coach Mike Moschetti said his sophomore running back played great in the big time win.
“He’s a Luatua. … He had a great game, he played great defensively and offensively,” Moschetti said. “He’s only a sophomore. He’s only gonna get better.”
The Warriors were missing their first and second string quarterbacks due to injury. Bishop Alemany head coach Casey Clausen said before the game that his team would run a platoon at the position, however they couldn’t get any momentum going as they were shut out offensively.
Despite the 29-point win, which clinched a playoff berth for St. Paul, Moschetti said he was disappointed by the mistakes his team made throughout the game.
“It was just sloppy and ugly. We got a lot to clean up. The quicker we get to Monday’s practice, the better off we are going to be cause it was just an ugly and sickening football game to be honest,” Moschetti said.
Luatua got the Swordsmen started early, taking a 15-yard carry for a touchdown to give St. Paul an early 7-0 lead.
St. Paul took advantage of great field position again as Luatua punched in a touchdown from 3 yards out as the Swordsmen jumped out to a 14-0 lead with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter.
“Man, my (offensive line), I couldn’t do nothing without my (offensive line). They are making some great blocks and some holes for me,” Luatua offered up.
The St. Paul offense went three and out and punted for the first time with 8:40 left in the second quarter, but a bad snap sent the ball to the back of the end zone for a safety and Alemany landed its only points of the game.
St. Paul quarterback Gabriel Castaneda joined in on the touchdown party when found Kaleb Lauago for a nine-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 19.
St. Paul tacked on a field goal at the half and take a 24-2 lead into the break.
On the opening possession of the second half, Castaneda would add another touchdown pass to his day, this time connecting with Aden Taufa for a 25-yard score to give the Swordsmen a 29-point lead.
Swordsmen sophomore running back Jace Levario added 81 yards on the ground in a all-round dominating rushing effort from St. Paul.
St. Paul travels to Paraclete next Friday before a potential de-facto Angelus League title game in week 10 vs. Cathedral.
