NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Every football team in Texas is itching for the lights of Week 1. Finding excitement is easy. A more challenging task is finding a team that wants redemption more than McAllen High. The Bulldogs finished with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-4 district record in 2016.
They did have some impressive offensive nights, such as their 35-19 and 42-36 wins over La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and McAllen Rowe, respectively. McAllen High is gunning for more nights like that, rather than the 14 points the team averaged in losses.
Even after two losing seasons in a row, the Bulldogs aren’t hanging their heads. The past is behind, and McHi is looking straight ahead.
“You obviously can’t get down about a losing season,” linebacker Wilbert Murillo said. “You always have to pick yourself back up. It’s a quick process, and I hope we’ll get back to winning.”
Expected to factor into the offense and defense in a major way is WR/CB Gunnar Henderson. The senior has breakaway speed in open space. His athleticism and speed were on display even after football season ended during his junior year.
Henderson had a strong track season, racing until his third-place regional finish in the 300-meter hurdles.
“It keeps me in shape, and I love competition,” Henderson said. “It keeps my competition level up. I get to compete against fast guys. Speed kills on the football field, so it keeps my speed up too. It just helps all around and gets me prepared for football.”
Henderson and running back Roy Gutierrez will be primary options for McHi’s quarterback, though coach Kevin Brewer is yet to name a starter under center.
Returner J.R. Cortez and incoming sophomore Aaron Nixon are battling for the position.
Cortez has the advantage of being in the system for a year. Nixon has also shown prowess on the baseball diamond, where he is a top prospect. He brings athleticism and a high level of competitiveness that’s seen him face some of the nation’s best, albeit in another spot.
He’s no stranger to the gridiron, either, having experience from middle school and quarterbacking the freshman squad last year.
The pieces are in place for the team, which is aiming to eclipse its 272.5 yards per game last year and enter the elite tier of offenses.
QB-hopeful Nixon knows that the offense is ready to go with tools in place. Most important is letting plays develop and getting the ball to skill guys. They’ll handle the rest.
“We just need to get ‘em the ball,” Nixon said. “Give Gunnar the ball. He’ll make plays. And Roy, he’s just a bruiser. He’ll get yards for you. It’s going to be a good year.”
WIPING THE SLATE
Only six starters return from last year, but plenty of roster members were a part of the 2016 team.
“All those guys are hungry to put last year behind us and move on and do some great things this year,” Brewer said. “They’ve been anxious going all the way back to last winter, during offseason. It’s contagious, and it’s great being around these kids again.”
Henderson’s awareness of the offense is evident. He wants to make defenses pick who beats them.
“It’s really helpful for me and everybody else to have Roy back there who can carry the load and carry 20 times a game,” Henderson said. “It makes the defense come to the box, which opens it up for me. And then when teams start double-teaming me, it takes someone out the box, which opens it up for Roy.”
The playmaking slot receiver said simply believing in the talent on the roster could swing the outcome.
The Bulldogs hope a “feel better, play better” attitude will work. Last year, contending for a playoff spot was an uphill battle after the team posted a 1-5 record through six games.
“Keep our confidence throughout the season,” Henderson said. “Go into a game thinking we’re going to win 50-0. If you have that confidence, I think everything else will fall into place.”
Running back Gutierrez echoed some of Henderson’s positive feelings coming into the season.
“I think we really have it already. It’s a lot of the bond that we have,” Gutierrez said. “We all kind of group up together. It’s our mental state. We’re a tough group of kids.”
GROWING ON DEFENSE
Murillo is pegged as one of the leaders for Brewer’s defense. He seems to be embracing the role of sensei to a young group.
“You just got to show leadership to the young bucks,” Murillo said. “They still have that deer-in-the-headlights kind of look. You have to let them know it’s going to be OK, and just to bring it every day.”
“It’s a meat grinder in this district,” Brewer said. “Week in, week out, you’ve got to come with your cleats laced up and ready to go. No different this year. The key to a lot of the district ballgames is stopping the run.”The Bulldogs have plenty of room for growth when they don’t have possession. They allowed a district-worst 3,331 total yards (2125 rushing, 1206 passing) last season.
EXPECTATIONS STILL HERE
Even after a down year, McAllen isn’t afforded much time before fans are hungry for another strong group of Bulldogs.
Henderson has seen the fans show up through thick and thin, and he wants to play for them.“We always have fans behind us who come to every single one of our games winning or losing,” Henderson said. “We’re really thankful for that. We definitely give it our all every week. I can promise you that we’re going to do a heck of a lot better this year.”
“You just have to be resilient,” Murillo said. “If you lose a couple, you obviously have to come back and win a lot more. I think that’s a good thing in this district.”
Gutierrez feels like the heat of competition and strong goals are enough to carry McAllen.
“We just love to compete, it’s good having the goals up there,” he said.
McALLEN HIGH’S PROGNOSIS
The Bulldogs will be out for revenge, and they have the skill players to earn it. They should score more, but the defense will need to elevate, as well.
2016 record: 3-7
Returning starters O/D: 3/3
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Kevin Brewer
Year at School: 5th
Record at school: 25-19