NATHANIEL MATA | THE MONITOR
LA JOYA — The McAllen High Bulldogs left all of their troubles in non-district and beat the La Joya High Coyotes 35-9 in their district opener Thursday night at La Joya ISD Stadium.
McHi (2-3, 1-0) matched its best scoring performance of the season and its defense played its best game of the year to keep the score so one-sided.
Gunnar Henderson was a playmaker yet again. He accounted for 172 of McAllen’s 308 yards on the ground and scored 2 TDs.
“Our offense clicked. Defense played outstanding tonight. Got us the stops we needed at the times that we needed it,” Henderson said. “I think our whole team clicked as one.”
On McHi’s first drive, Henderson took a reverse 60 yards down to the 7-yard line. After that, Roy Gutierrez powered home his first of two scores on the night.
Then Henderson did it himself with a 52-yard rush up the gut and around the Coyotes (3-3, 0-2). His speed allowed him to bounce to the outside and win foot races.
“Coaches put me in great situations, setting me up to make those plays,” Henderson said. “We put the defense in bad situations, and they just trust me to do my thing.”
McHi coach Kevin Brewer echoed the strategy to let Henderson make plays as often as he can.
“That young man makes special things happen with the ball in his hands,” Brewer said. “So we just want to feed him the rock and let him do what he does.”
Aaron Nixon got his first start at quarterback of the season for McHi. The sophomore had seen action as a wide receiver, but this week he got the call under center.
“Very poised, composed for a sophomore,” Brewer said. “(He) did a great job running our offense and taking care of the football.”
Nixon had a modest night passing the ball, going 3 of 7 for 23 yards. His best plays came on the ground. He ran 10 times for 43 yards, including a rushing TD.
“I was nervous until the first snap. Then it all just kind of settled down,” Nixon said. “It was just fun to be out there with my brothers.”
Nixon credited his O-line for taking a beating up front and allowing his backs to do their work. He praised the play of his two running backs, who juxtapose styles and challenge defenses.
“(Henderson) has insane speed,” Nixon said. “We got thunder and lightning with Roy and Gunnar, and it’s a great thing to have.
The 35-point output was the most for the Bulldogs since their Week 2 win against PSJA Memorial. The McHi defense only allowed one touchdown, which is by far the team’s best performance in 2017.
“They showed a lot of resiliency tonight and a lot of togetherness and brotherhood,” Brewer said. “I’m proud of how physical we played. La Joya is an extremely good football team. Big and physical and we matched them physicality-wise.”
McHi defense forced four turnovers — two fumble recoveries and two interceptions — nipping any La Joya attack in the bud.
The Coyotes’ Eddie Villarreal ran for 126 yards in the loss but never threatened to score a TD of his own.
“I’m so proud of those guys,” Brewer said. “We’ve given up, in the first four games, a lot of rushing yards and some points. Everybody was doubting our defense, and those kids take that stuff to heart. They had a great week of preparation.”
Now, McHi will face the defending 30-6A champions McAllen Memorial in an intracity showdown that never fails to excite.
Henderson and the Bulldogs hope Thursday’s game will give them momentum to pull an upset over the school that shall not be named.
“It gives a great confidence going into next week, when we play Blue,” Henderson said.