GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Within 48 hours of McAllen High’s season opener against Harlingen South last week, Bulldogs coach Kevin Brewer decided to go with his gut. Ruben Rodriguez would be McHi’s starting quarterback.
The returning varsity backup, Rodriguez for months had been embroiled in a battle with varsity newcomer JR Cortez. All the way through the team’s preseason scrimmage at San Benito, the Bulldogs hadn’t settled on a starter.
The competition is ongoing, but Rodriguez acquitted himself well through one start. Though McAllen High suffered a 21-14 loss to Harlingen South, Rodriguez completed 10 of 13 passes for 80 yards and a score.
“The coaches saw that I’ve been doing good at practice and just being a leader,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve wanted to play, bad, since last year. So I’m hungry for my position this year.”
With Mark Martinez and Roy Gutierrez also showing positive signs at running back, the Bulldogs are starting to find answers at the skill positions that were major questions entering the year.
The next test for the entire unit comes at 7 tonight, when McAllen High travels to face PSJA Memorial at PSJA Stadium.
“We still need more,” Brewer said. “We threw and caught the ball better. We ran the ball better, but we’re still not running it as well as we need to, production wise.”
Rodriguez is again in line to get tonight’s starting nod after Brewer said he showed composure and playmaking ability in Week 1.
McAllen High always looks for a dual threat at quarterback, and Rodriguez proved to fit the bill against Harlingen South. He tied for the team lead in rushing yardage and posted the best average yards per carry, toting the ball nine times for 45 yards.
The passing game was mostly dink and dunk, as Rodriguez averaged 8 yards per completion. But he also flashed the ability to throw the deep ball, finding tight end Sandon Yarto over the top of the defense for a 29-yard touchdown after the Hawks safety bit on a fake reverse.
“He took what they were giving, and that’s all we asked him to do,” Brewer said. “He did exactly what we wanted him to do and did a good job.”
With 2015 All-Area Offensive Player of the Year Josh McGowen graduating after one of the most prolific seasons in program history, varsity returner Martinez is taking an increased role in 2016.
In Week 1, he posted a team-high 15 carries, picking up 45 yards and a score. He said it was tough getting just 16 carries all of last season but added that he used the year to improve his speed and quickness while developing a greater understanding of the offense.
He said he relies on his speed and cutting ability, but Brewer points first and foremost to Martinez’s physicality and straightforward running style. Though listed on McHi’s roster at just 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, Martinez never hesitates to bring the hit to defenders.
“Even if I’m hurt, I’m still willing to run the ball,” Martinez said. “Whenever I get on the field, I always lower my shoulder and go to work.”
When Martinez is off the field, the Bulldogs turn to another downhill runner in Gutierrez. Getting his first taste of varsity action after playing only sparingly on JV in 2015 due to a preseason ankle injury, Gutierrez ran four times for 10 yards.
He said his inability to get on the field last year fueled a more intense offseason, filled with 5 a.m. runs and two-a-days at Gold’s Gym.
“I don’t like to make too many jukes or any cuts and stuff,” Gutierrez said. “I just stick it in the hole and do what coaches tell me to do. I’m not too fast or anything.
I lower my shoulder a lot and bring it to the defender.”
The Week 1 production was far from stellar, but the Bulldogs see progress. Brewer noted that McHi outscored South 14-7 outside of a sluggish first quarter.
Even the modest numbers represented significant progress from the preseason scrimmage, after which Brewer said McHi’s turnover at the skill positions was evident and that the group had plenty to clean up.
“I feel like we’re going to come a long way from that,” Martinez said. “Not everybody was on the right page. Now that we’re coming to our second game, I feel like we’re more or less on the same page.”