McALLEN — In McAllen High’s first game last season, on the road against Laredo United South, with temperatures on the field approaching 120 degrees, running back Ricky Rodriguez ran the ball 33 times. He racked up 181 yards as the Bulldogs won 23-0.
“That kind of sums him up,” coach Kevin Brewer said. “And he was ready for some more at the end of the game.”
Rodriguez would eventually get more. In a 42-40 win against McAllen Rowe, he ran the ball 40 times for 195 yards and three scores.
Fred Hover was the District 31-5A most valuable player last season, but Rodriguez was McHi’s workhorse. Both return to the backfield this year for a Bulldogs team that is looking to repeat as district champs.
Once again, Rodriguez figures to carry a heavy load.
“He is as tough as a box of nails,” Brewer said. “He likes the physicality of the game. Sometimes I have to tell him, ‘Why don’t you juke that kid instead of running him over? Come on, bud. Take care of your body a little bit.’”
Rodriguez isn’t much worried about his durability — “You always hope for more carries,” he said — and Brewer said the Bulldogs aren’t afraid to give him the ball 40 times again if the game situation calls for it.
Under last year’s heavy workload, Rodriguez amassed 1,371 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“I don’t mind it, because then the stats at the end were real good,” Rodriguez said. “He’s not just running me down. I get to score at the end, so that’s good.”
Rodriguez is a do-it-all back for the Bulldogs. He is a tough, physical runner who can power through defenders, but he also has the moves to evade would-be tacklers. He has the vision to find the hole, and the quickness and cutting ability to get through it. He can catch passes out of the backfield, and when McHi goes to the spread, he lines up in the slot. He even has a role on the punt team, as the personal protector.
“Ricky is a great guy to play with,” Hover said. “He’s real high energy, and he’s a workhorse. It’s a great thing to know that you have a back you can give it to 40 times per game, and he’s always going to be pumping, always churning, making big plays, getting pumped up. It’s great playing next to a guy like that.”
Rodriguez has only gotten faster and stronger with an offseason of strength and conditioning work. Brewer called him “a workout maniac.”
Rodriguez also participated in about eight different college camps around the state this summer — an effort to get himself better known and build relationships with coaches so that hopefully he can continue his career past high school. Right now, he’s got interest from Incarnate Word and Stephen F. Austin.
His goals for this year are rushing for more than 2,000 yards and besting last year’s total of 20 touchdowns. That would certainly put him on the radar, even though his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame and middling 40-yard dash time aren’t ideal for the college level.
“What Ricky lacks in measurables he makes up for in playmaking ability — he’s just a football player,” Brewer said. “We hope that colleges won’t overlook that. I hope they don’t just look at his height and look at his weight and get scared off. I think somebody is going to get a gem with him, no doubt.”
EXPERIENCED QB
With 1,418 passing yards, 1,055 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns last season, Hover clearly has the athletic ability to star as a dual-threat quarterback.
But where the three-year starter has impressed his coach the most is through leadership and understanding the offense. Now entering his third year as the starter, Hover has the savvy to change plays at the line of scrimmage.
“If one of us coaches messes up a call, he immediately catches us and corrects it,” Brewer said. “He’s just really matured into being a field general.”
With seven returning starters on offense, the Bulldogs were able to use the spring to add tweaks and wrinkles to their offense. Hover sys the team has picked up right where they left off.
“We’re rocking and rolling,” Hover said. “No one has really missed a beat, so that’s been really beneficial for us.”
PAVING THE WAY
A big part of McAllen High’s offense is the line, which returns three all-district performers from last year in Brandon Cuellar, Raul Luera, and Jose “Chico” Reyes.
“If they continue to work and improve, and if they get that killer instinct, I think they could be better than last year’s group,” Brewer said.
THE DEFENSE
Brewer has been happy with what he’s seen from McHi’s defense. The secondary returns three starters and should be the group’s strength.
The defensive line is bigger than last year’s, and the linebackers are more athletic. Strong side linebacker Cody Rodriguez should be the standout.
“That young man has a nose for the football, and he arrives with a bad attitude,” Brewer said. “He’s the cog to that machine up there in the front seven.”
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Prognosis
With studs returning at quarterback, running back and offensive line, McHi will be in the mix to repeat as district champs.
2014 Record: 10-3
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Tenure
Coach: Kevin Brewer
Year at school: 2nd
Record: 9-2