The St. Jospeh Academy Bloodhounds are preparing for another season in TAPPS football.

It's a seasoned squad with about eight returners on defense and nine on offense.

Last year, the Bloodhounds finished 3-4 in district play. This year, it's much different with just a four-team district for SJA.

The team is looking forward to the chance to have more time to polish things up before the start of district play late in the season.

"We're a school of 300 students." Bloodhounds head coach Tino Villarreal said. "So when you take 300 students against 3,000 students population, our job is to stay healthy. Our job is to compete. Our job is to get tough and get ready for the district run. So, obviously our goal is looking way beyond those non-district games using them as great learning lessons."

The offense is led by Diego De La Cruz on the offensive line. He's already received a few D1 offers. However, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman is staying focused on this season.

"We just have the mindset of if you don't shoot for the best, why are you even doing it?" De La Cruz said. "So, we're shooting for state. Why not? Why can't we do it? So, we're very excited. This is a special group."

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