McALLEN — District 16-5A DI will present a series of key matchups to open district play during Week 2 of Texas high school football.
One contest, however, will carry a little more weight, as the McAllen High Bulldogs and McAllen Memorial Mustangs face off for the 40th time, with bragging rights and a 1-0 start in district play on the line.
Kickoff between the Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0) and Mustangs (0-1, 0-0) is set for 7 tonight at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
“This is what you play the game for,” Bulldogs head coach Patrick Shelby said. “Rivalry week, the kids get fired up for this week. I know the student body gets excited. Our administration gets excited. We’re really looking forward to come out here and putting a good game together.”
After opening the rivalry series with a 19-9 record, the Bulldogs have been on the losing end during the past 11 matchups, their last win a 45-42 contest Oct. 23, 2009.
Last season, the Bulldogs could nearly taste victory, taking a 20-14 lead into the final period, before a 20-point fourth quarter by the Mustangs helped complete the comeback and shatter McHi’s hopes of ending the streak.
After last year’s heartbreaking loss, this season’s matchup with the Mustangs has been circled on his calendar, Bulldogs senior quarterback Hunter Curl said, looking to snap the streak and earn his first victory over their crosstown rival.
“It’s a very important game for us,” Curl said. “Us personally, the seniors, we haven’t beat them in the past 11 years, so this year really hits somewhere in the heart. It’d mean everything to win. All those hard workouts and early morning practice, they’ll all pay off.”
The Bulldogs will look to build off a 14-6 Week 1 victory over Edinburg High, led by Curl’s two touchdown passes and an opportunistic defense that created three turnovers, including a game sealing interception by Kolten Ottmers.
Three miles down the road, the Mustangs are preparing for battle, looking to extend their dominating run.
Junior offensive tackle Thomas Domian is no stranger to the crosstown matchup, watching both his older brothers compete in the contest.
Domian’s oldest sibling, Tres, started at safety for the Mustangs during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, while other brother Daniel starred at defensive end and offensive tackle during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Still, it wasn’t until last year that Thomas began to fully understand the rivalry, becoming the third Domian to don the Mustangs’ blue and gold.
“I didn’t really get it at first,” Thomas said. “It was crazy. We come together as a school and play our crosstown rival. I just didn’t get it at that point. Now I get why everybody is so excited and so passionate about it.”
“At first, it was kind of unreal. During the second quarter I was like, ‘Damn, I’m actually here. I’m actually playing.’ Then when the third and fourth quarter hit, I realized I like this feeling. And when we won, it was an even better feeling because we were able to continue the tradition.”
With the win last season, the Mustangs took a 20-19 series advantage. Senior defensive back Jaden Muhammad, who got his first taste of the rivalry last season, said he expects more of the same this year.
“The rivalry is big,” Muhammad said. “Twelve years is a lot of pressure. I think our defense has been working hard. I think we’re ready for them. We’ve been watching film. I think we’re ready. I expect dubs. Nothing but dubs.”
The Mustangs enter the matchup looking to bounce back after last Friday’s 42-6 loss to Edinburg Vela.
Despite 11 consecutive victories, Mustangs head coach Moses Patterson, who has been a part of the rivalry since 2009, said he knows Friday’s matchup will be a battle.
“Everyone talks about Texas football,” Patterson said. “This to me is what Texas football is all about. You have two huge schools, in this case two sister schools going at it. It’s a classic rivalry. You never know what’s going to happen. Stats, records, all that stuff is out the door.”