GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Less than two weeks from the start of the 2016 season, McAllen High’s quarterback position is still in flux. The receiver group lacks clear starters. At running back, the Bulldogs are trying to replace not just All-Area Offensive Player of the Year Josh McGowen, who graduated, but also his heir apparent, Gunnar Henderson, who transferred to Brownsville St. Joseph.
With so little solidified at the skill positions, the Bulldogs enter 2016 planning to lean heavily on their offensive line — a group of five seniors that includes three returning starters.
“We’re definitely going to be required to put in extra work out there and carry the team more,” right guard Andrew Tipton said. “We’re going to have to help the skill guys. Push the pile for the extra yard, and make sure they get the most out of their runs. We love it. We love the expectations being incredibly high for us, because it pushes us every day.”
Tipton returns at right guard after starting every game last season. Joseph Guerra is also back at left guard, and Will Solis will play left tackle — where he started last year’s first five games before missing the rest of the season due to injury.
Joining them up front is returning letterman Aaron Carbajal at center, junior varsity call-up Zach Hettler at right tackle and tight end Sandon Yarto, another senior and returning starter.
“We always lean on our offensive line around here,” McAllen High coach Kevin Brewer said. “We’re going to lean on them through the course of the year, and that just comes with the territory and our style of play.”
McHi’s leading returning rusher, Mark Martinez, carried the ball 16 times for 118 yards last season. Brewer said Martinez will make up one half of a “two-headed monster” along with first-time varsity player Roy Gutierrez. Both are expected to bring a physical, straight-ahead running style.
“Our backup running back, Mark Martinez, he had a few good runs last year, but I feel like he’s still trying to find how he’s going to run on the varsity level,” Yarto said. “All of our other running backs, they’re just real young. First-year varsity. I feel like our line is going to help a lot with that. And since we have first-year varsity quarterbacks, our line is going to play a big part in our passing game, as well.”
The competition to be the Bulldogs’ signal caller is still up in the air between returning backup Ruben Rodriguez and varsity newcomer JR Cortez. Brewer said he wants to make a decision on a starter after Friday’s scrimmage against San Benito, saying splitting time throughout the year isn’t fair to either player.
At wideout, Brewer is also yet to tab starters.
“We’re still evaluating the quarterback situation and the wide receiver situation, but we knew that coming in,” Brewer said. “So all in all, good so far.”
The Bulldogs’ offense was reliant on McGowen last season, as he finished his only season at McHi with the school records for yards (1,891), rushing touchdowns (22), total touchdowns (26), and yards in a single game (340).
Brewer thought McHi would have a surefire replacement in Henderson, who had shown elite speed, quickness and athleticism playing defensive back as a sophomore. Then, on June 20, Henderson posted to Twitter that he would be transferring to Brownsville St. Joseph, feeling it was a better opportunity academically and athletically.
Yarto said Brewer hardly mentioned it to the team, only saying that anyone who didn’t want to be a part of the program wasn’t needed and not addressing Henderson by name. So far, Brewer said the Bulldogs have not been hurt by Henderson’s absence. “Gunnar is a very talented kid, and we had plans for him obviously getting the ball in his hands at different positions,” Brewer said. “So far during two-a-days, I have not at any point said to myself, ‘Man, we really need Gunnar here.’ I feel really good with the kids that we’ve got, and I think we’re fine.”
STOUT DEFENSE
Brewer said McHi’s entire defense has stood out so far this spring. A fast and aggressive front seven is highlighted by linebackers Jose Peña and Franky Gutierrez, and the defensive line has four returning starters: tackles Tony Carranza and Carlos Rivera and ends Amadeo Salinas and Mark Neal.
Pablo Alvarado is the leader in the secondary, though Brewer said the group doesn’t have any true vocal leader after defensive lineman Cesar Guzman transferred to Lake Travis following the 2015 season.
“It hurt each and every one of us that he left,” Alvarado said. “But it shouldn’t be that hard. I’m sure we can pick up where we left off.”
WELCOME ABOARD
The Bulldogs have seen players join the team from other sports and immediately compete for starting spots.
Luis Vega, a basketball player, has brought leadership to the linebacker position. And Keola Zamora, a baseball player, has looked like a center fielder as he tracks plays from the free safety position.
“Every year, it seems like we draw more and more,” Brewer said. “It’s a two-way street, because when football is over, I demand that my football players play other sports.”
PROGNOSIS
Even after losing would-be top returners Gunnar Henderson and Cesar Guzman to transfers, McAllen High has enough depth and talent to make the playoffs for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons.
Projected 2016 Record: 6-5
TENURE
Coach: Kevin Brewer
Year at School: Fourth
Record at McAllen High: 22-12