NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen High linebacker Trace Gagne played varsity as a sophomore last year and learned in the pressure cooker of a run-heavy district.
He’ll be a junior next season, and spring practice has him determined to lead the defense to better, more consistent stretches in 2018.
“We’ve been working really hard, and we have a lot of leadership, especially on our defense,” Gagne said. “All of our defense is returning, so we’re kicking ass in practice right now. We have more senior leadership this season. They’re working harder than we ever did before. There’s more leadership. The guys care more.”
Last season, McHi fell to the bottom of District 30-6A in total defense. The Bulldogs allowed 2,386 rushing yards, which also ranked last in the district.
Gagne said that the team’s attitude and hostility during its struggles might have contributed to the poor stretches.
“We had some seniors on the team — not that they weren’t good or anything — but they would just bring us down, our morality,” Gagne said. “Somebody would miss a tackle — one of the younger guys — and they would get on our butts, but they wouldn’t do it in a way that would help us. We would end up getting on droughts on defense, and it would affect how they game played out.”
A new group of juniors and seniors is taking the leadership roles now, and Gagne is hoping that more camaraderie will spark better play.
“We have a better brotherhood,” Gagne said. “Nobody’s ever bickering. Somebody misses a tackle, we get back up and say, ‘Let’s go. We’re going to do this again.’”
“What coach (and defensive coordinator Tracey) Hamilton preaches to us is that we have to beat the guys in front of us with our base defense,” Gagne said. “We’ll just see what we can do against the offense that with that. And then if we start struggling a little bit, then we’ll add stunts in.”
Jackson Helmcamp returns after leading McHi in tackles in 2017 with 80. Gagne ranked fifth on the team with 56 total tackles. In between the two juniors are a handful of seniors, as well as senior-to-be Daniel Chiquito, who had 60 tackles.
On the offensive side, McHi will have holes to fill. Most notable among the graduating class is the thunder and lightning combination of Roy Gutierrez (1,160 rushing yards) and Gunnar Henderson (1,159 total yards).
“We have a lot of spots to fill on offense,” McAllen High coach Kevin Brewer said. “I think we were counting the other day, and it’s nine new kids on offense.”
RELOADING
McHi will say goodbye to the game-changing speed of Henderson, who will graduate and continue playing football in college for the University of the Incarnate Word. During his senior season, he had 1,446 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns. McHi’s next two leaders in all-purpose yards were also seniors in 2017.
Octavian Lewis was the first name that Brewer mentioned when talking about his backfield, and the youngster will be asked to step into the shoes of the 2018 grads.
Lewis, who spent most of his time on junior varsity but was called up to varsity late as a sophomore last season, is confident that the group will have enough talent to produce by committee.
“I think that even though he’s gone, we’re going to have guys that are going to step up, fill the role and, as a team, become better,” Lewis said. “So it’s not, ‘Oh, we lost a guy.’ We have people that can perform.”
Troy Martinez is another player who should get carries for McHi. Tito Cantu will return at fullback for his senior season, ready to block for whomever is moving the ball.
“It’s good being back on the field with everyone,” Cantu said. “We’re trying to see how we’re going to do with our O-line, because everybody’s new. Every day, we always compete to the best, and we always get our best players on the field. Last year, they were always there behind the older guys, and they watched everything they did.”
Lewis wants the underclassman to prove they can lead the Bulldogs without missing a beat. He says he’s ready to play any position, whether it’s in the backfield, in the slot or elsewhere.
“I think that this upcoming team, we’re good enough to replace the guys that we’ve had and have a better season,” Lewis said. “Our unity has definitely become stronger. My role is to get in there and do whatever my teammates need me to do.”
Lewis, Gagne and quarterback Aaron Nixon, are part of the 2020 graduating class. Lewis said preparation is to thank for the group being able to contribute early.
“It all comes down to the coaching,” Lewis said. “They’re coaching us to be mentally, physically and emotionally ready to go against guys that are bigger than us.”
McAllen’s non-district schedule begins with Brownsville Lopez in Week 1 before the team travels to Edinburg to face Edinburg North, then to Boggus Stadium to face Harlingen South for a third straight season.
PRIDE RUNS DEEP
Nixon was one glaring absence from the McHi unit during the spring. His duties on the baseball diamond came to an end on Saturday. On the baseball team, he’s an ace pitcher and reliable hitter. The Bulldogs were 30-6A champions and reached the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
The athletic success on campus hasn’t been limited to just baseball. The girls soccer team became the first girls team from the Valley to reach the state tournament, the boys basketball team qualified for the postseason, the swimming team sent several individuals to state and the wrestling team placed an athlete in the state’s final four.
“This has been a great year for McHi athletics in general,” Brewer said. “I talk to the kids all the time about a culture of success around here. From tennis, all the way to football, we want to be the best at everything. When our girls soccer team was making their run to state, every week I was talking to our football boys. I said, ‘Boys, our girls are showing everyone on this campus the path of how it can be done.’’’
Returning starters (O/D) 4/10
Returning lettermen: 28
Key players: QB Aaron Nixon, WR/RB Octavian Lewis, WR Dylan Martinez, LB Trace Gagne, LB Jackson Helmcamp
Coach: Kevin Brewer, 6th season
2017 Record: 4-7