PHARR — Another week, another win for the Bulldogs.
McAllen remained unbeaten Thursday night, rolling past PSJA Memorial 49-7 at PSJA Stadium to improve to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in district.
A week after shutting out Palmview 55-0, McAllen came very close pitching back to back shutouts.
Sophomore running back Cole Morley powered the offense, rushing for 198 yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries.
Morley opened the scoring on McAllen’s first possession and followed with a 28-yard touchdown on the Bulldogs’ next drive. He had 155 yards and four touchdowns by halftime before adding his fifth score early in the third quarter.
The performance pushed Morley past 1,100 yards for the season, giving him 1,129 rushing yards through eight games.
Junior quarterback Luke Laurel also provided explosive plays through the air.
Laurel connected with senior Brodyn Santos for a 69-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, then found junior Ethan Shelby for a 34-yard score in the second. The two touchdown passes give Laurel 29 on the season.
McAllen carried a 42-0 advantage into halftime before Morley’s fifth touchdown extended the lead to 49-0 in the third quarter.
PSJA Memorial broke through with its lone touchdown midway through the final period, but the outcome had long been decided.
The performance continued many of the same themes that have followed McAllen throughout its unbeaten season.
After last week’s win over Palmview, senior linebacker Hayden Helgeson credited the Bulldogs’ defensive success to physical practices and preparation throughout the week. Head coach Patrick Shelby’s mantra of ‘one game at a time’, is still in effect.
Through eight games, the Bulldogs have scored 370 points while allowing just 44, an average of more than 46 points scored and just 5.5 points allowed per game. McAllen has also outscored Palmview and PSJA Memorial 104-7 over the past two weeks and has won 12 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season.
McAllen remains alone atop the District 16-5A Division I standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
The undefeated Bulldogs return home Thursday, Oct. 29, to face a winless Donna North before closing the regular season against Mission on Nov. 6.
