McALLEN — After a touchdown by McAllen Memorial junior running back Max Alaniz-Choy during overtime, the McAllen High Bulldogs took over knowing they needed a touchdown to stay alive.
A false start and a pair of back-to-back incompletions by senior quarterback Hunter Curl put the Bulldogs in a hole, facing a fourth-and-15 with the game on the line.
In a last-ditch effort, Curl lofted the ball into the end zone to junior wideout Christian Echazarreta, but the pass was broken up by Mustangs defensive back Christopher Hernandez, as McAllen Memorial held off the Bulldogs 35-28 on Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“This is what Texas high school football is all about,” McAllen Memorial head coach Moses Patterson said. “I can’t say enough about McHi. They did a great job. The coach staff and the kids played tough. We had a bunch of mishaps here and there, but we adapted and overcame. I was proud of our kids for battling back, fighting though it and coming out on top.”
Alaniz-Choy paced the Mustangs’ offense, racking up 310 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, while kicking all five of McAllen Memorial’s extra points.
The bruising running back capped off the game in fitting fashion, carrying the rock for 22 yards on three carries in overtime, while punching in the game-winning touchdown from 10 yards.
“He’s a team leader for us,” Patterson said. “He works hard every day. He’s our workhorse. He punts, he’s our kicker and our fullback. He does a little bit of everything. He’s Mustang pride through and through. Our kids love to rally around him.”
Down 21-14 at the break, the Bulldogs came into the second period with their foot on the gas, scoring on back-to-back possessions on runs of 6 and 18 yards by Curl to take their first lead of the contest.
The Mustangs answered back immediately after Curl’s second touchdown, marching down the field behind the bruising runs of Alaniz-Choy before quarterback Derek Silva capped off the drive with a 1-yard sneak to tie the game.
After forcing their fifth turnover on a fumble by Alaniz-Choy, the Bulldogs marched down the field, getting into field goal territory with 1:47 left in the game.
The 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked by McAllen Memorial’s Eduardo Elizondo, sending the game into overtime, where the Mustangs held on, extending their win streak over McHi to 12, while earning Patterson his first win as head coach.
“We can’t say enough about McHi and the job that they did tonight,” Patterson said. “They’re a great football team. We have some things we have to fix, ball security being a big one. We’re going to work hard on that this week. Once we do that and some other things, everything will take care of itself.”
The Bulldogs defense did their part on the night, forcing five turnovers, but the offense was unable to maximize the opportunities, only turning three of those turnovers into points.
Curl finished the night throwing for 185 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 69 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Echazarreta finished as the team’s leading receiver for a second consecutive week, hauling in four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Up next, the Bulldogs (1-1, 0-1) hit the road to take on the Donna High Redskins (0-1, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Bennie La Prade Stadium in Donna.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs (1-1, 1-0) host the La Joya Palmview Lobos (1-1, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.