By Kristian Limas | Special to The Monitor
McALLEN — Already playoff bound, the McAllen High Bulldogs had to get past an upstart La Joya Palmview program Thursday with seeding still on the line.
The Bulldogs, minus their starting quarterback Fred Hover, won a defensive battle 14-0 Thursday night at a rain soaked McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Caleb Youngblood stepped in for the injured Hover and performed admirably, going 5 for 8 in passing and rushing for 73 yards, including a touchdown. The running game did the rest of the work as the Bulldogs rushed for a combined 171 yards. Running back Ricky Rodriguez broke McHi’s all-time scoring record with a TD.
It was the defense that shined for McHi, though, as it forced four turnovers, including a key fumble recovery deep in Lobos territory that led to the first touchdown.
“They just plum got after it,” McHi coach Kevin Brewer said. “Two weeks they got their pride hurt a little bit (a loss to McAllen Memorial) but they know they’re better than that. Palmview is an excellent football team. They run the football very well. Our defense takes that stuff to heart and they came out determined to be strong against the run and getting those turnovers.”
In the second quarter McHi defensive end Marc Vasquez stripped Palmview’s Abel Torres. The Bulldogs recovered at the Lobos’ 9-yard line.
On the next play, Youngblood scored his rushing TD, and McHi led 6-0 after Palmview blocked the extra point.
“I’m very proud of Caleb, very proud,” Brewer said. “I’ll tell you what, that young man showed a lot of poise, and showed a lot of character and leadership filling in for Fred and I knew he would. I didn’t have any doubts about him.”
Youngblood said he was prepared for his first start.
“I felt great out there,” Youngblood said. “I mean it was tough with these weather conditions and it’s not easy to step in for Fred Hover but I went out there, did my thing, and I can’t thank anybody more than my line. They really helped me out.”
The Lobos (6-3-1, 4-2) rushed for 190 yards but penalties and costly turnovers doomed them.
A second fumble loss in the third quarter led to McHi’s second TD. After a 25-yard pass from Youngblood to Justin Gonzalez, Rodriguez ran it in from 11 yards outs. A two-point conversion made it 14-0.
Both teams are in the playoffs but McHi (7-3, 5-1) still has a chance at a District 30-6A title if Mission High upsets McAllen Memorial tonight.
As for who will be under center for the Bulldogs next week, Brewer declined to say.
“We’ll see what happens this week,” Brewer said.
Youngblood said he will be ready.