Football Game Preview: St. Paul Swordsmen vs. Bishop Alemany Warriors

The St. Paul Swordsmen will venture away from home to square off against the Bishop Alemany Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. St. Paul has given up an average of 42.6 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

On Friday, St. Paul needed a bit of extra time to put away St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy. They slipped by the Warriors 35-34. The Swordsmen's offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.

St. Paul's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Gabriel Castaneda led the charge by rushing for 60 yards and three scores on only seven carries, while also throwing for 142 yards on 11 of 20 attempts. Castaneda also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making five total tackles and defending one pass. Jace Levario was another key rusher, rushing for 85 yards and one TD on only six carries.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: St. Paul was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 301 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 254 rushing yards in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Bishop Alemany was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They were dealt a 38-6 loss at the hands of St. Francis. The Warriors were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 24-0.

Bishop Alemany's defeat dropped their record down to 1-7. As for St. Paul, their win bumped their record up to 2-6.

Everything came up roses for St. Paul against Bishop Alemany in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 31-2 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Swordsmen since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.