McALLEN — The McAllen High Bulldogs entered the break last week down seven to the Donna High Redskins before a 76-yard touchdown run sparked the Bulldogs’ come-from-behind win.
On Friday, the Bulldogs found themselves in a similar hole, trailing the Brownsville Veterans Chargers by one score after one half of play.
This week, however, it was the defense’s turn to make a play, with McAllen High defensive back Kolten Ottmers intercepting Chargers quarterback Mauricio Sampayo with 31 seconds left in regulation, as the Bulldogs won at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in The Monitor’s Game of the Week.
“The adrenaline is insane going through my body right now,” Ottmers said. “I think everybody is jumping up and down. I don’t think anybody can stand still right now. Going into the game, I knew I had to step up and pick it up for my team and I came through.”
After giving up 190 yards of total offense during the first half, the Bulldogs’ defense buckled down following the break, holding the high-powered Chargers offense to 68 total yards, including only 28 on the ground.
Ottmers led the charge defensively, swarming to the ball all night, while coming down with two interceptions, including a 41-yard pick-six on the third play of the second half to tie the game at 14.
“We had talked about it in the locker room that we needed a big play coming out,” Ottmers said. “We needed to stop them, get a turnover or something to get our offense back on the field. That just set the tone for the second half. Honestly, I don’t even know what I was thinking on those plays. I just caught the ball and told myself I had to score, close it out and get one for my team.”
Senior quarterback Hunter Curl piloted the offense, meticulously moving the ball with both his arms and feet. Curl completed 10 of 14 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 59 yards on the ground.
Curl’s biggest plays came during the Bulldogs’ two offensive touchdowns, going seven for seven for 77 yards, while connecting with wideout Christian Echazarreta for a pair of scores.
The Chargers marched down the field on their opening possession behind the powerful running of Michael Montoya and Jorge Alvarado, getting all the way to the Bulldogs’ 1.
Brownsville Veterans then turned to Montoya on four consecutive runs inside the 10, but the McHi defense held strong, buckling down and forcing a turnover on downs.
After an interception of Curl on the ensuing possession, the Chargers marched down the field again, this time finishing the drive on a 4-yard touchdown run by Alvarado, drawing first blood.
The Bulldogs answered back with a 13-play, five-minute drive, tying the contest on a 10-yard screen pass from Curl to Echazarreta.
The Chargers’ offense continued rolling, stringing together a 10-play drive during the final three minutes of the first half, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Sampayo to Zackary Dennis, giving Brownsville Veterans a 14-7 lead at the break.
It was the final score for the Chargers, as the Bulldogs scored 14 unanswered second-half points to claim the win.
“It was just more of getting lined up, reading our keys and making sure our eyes were working properly,” McAllen High head coach Patrick Shelby said. “We talked about not trying to do someone else’s job and just doing your job and we’d be OK.”
Up next, the Bulldogs (3-1, 2-1) have a quick turnaround, facing the Brownsville Porter Cowboys (1-3, 0-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.
Meanwhile, the Chargers (2-2, 2-1) host the La Joya Palmview Lobos (2-2, 1-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, also at Sams Memorial Stadium.