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It all began with J.C. Dykes, the 1928 McAllen High coach who helped put the Bulldogs on the map. Although the Bulldogs began play in 1914, it wasn’t until 1928 that they made the playoffs for the first time in their almost 100-year history.

That season, McAllen High finished 9-1-1 and defeated Robstown and Alice in the playoffs. It was the first of 20 playoffs berths and many highlights for one the Rio Grande Valley’s longest running programs. McAllen High was voted by Valley Freedom Newspapers as No. 9 program of all time in the series Gridon Gold, which ranks the top 14 football programs in the Valley history.

Going back through the years, the Bulldogs have had the highs, the players and the coaches that warrant their standing.

McAllen High schooled one of the Valley’s legendary athletes in George Strohmeyer.

It is believed that Strohmeyer, who went on to play at Texas A&M and then Notre Dame, where he won two national championship (1946 and 1947), holds the distinction of being the only Valleyite to be named a collegiate All-American.

In 1946, Strohmeyer was named a first-team All-American center by the International News Service, The Sporting News and Look magazine (Football Writers Association of America Selections 1946-70). He also was named as a second team All-American by United Press and by the American Football Coaches Association.

“Gaining wide attention because of his nosing out regulars for his position his freshmen year at the South Bend school, Strohmeyer took third-string honors on the Associated Press All-American team,” a December 8, 1946 article in The Valley Evening Monitor read. “Strohmeyer earned NEA second-team honors and first on the New York Daily News selections and favorable comment from coaches and sportswriters throughout the country.”

The Bulldogs have also been coached by the legendary Charlie Williams in the late ’70s, advancing three-rounds deep in the playoffs in ’75, and the Valley’s all-time winningest coach Alex Leal from 1985-92, guiding the Bulldogs to playoff appearances in ’89, ’91 and ’92.

Behind All-State guard Pete Odom in ’43, the Bulldogs had one of their best campaigns, finishing 10-1 and outscoring their opponents 276-6, including a 140-21 output against their District 16-2A opponents (Edinburg High, Robstown, Harlingen High and San Benito).

The ’52 season is one of the best in school history and was one of the most dominant the Valley had seen up to that season and arguably one of the best of all time. McAllen High finished 11-1 that season and outscored its opponents 410-78.

“McAllen’s unconquered Bulldogs established themselves as one of the greatest teams in Valley football history here Friday night,” appeared in The Valley Evening Monitor after the Bulldogs defeated San Antonio Edison 26-6 in bi-district.

“Perhaps the Bulldogs are the greatest team of all.”

The ’52 McHi team produced five all-state players (Gary Rankin, Luis Guerra, Don Bum, Joe Mancha and Joe Molina).

The ’52 and ’54 teams were two of only a handful of deep South Texas teams to advance to the state semifinals. Although in those days, teams needed to win only a bi-district game to advance to the semis.

Peter Rasmussen covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.

NO. 9: McALLEN HIGH

Nickname: Bulldogs

Football Began: 1914

District Titles: 13 (1928, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2007)

Playoff Appearances: 20 (1928, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008)

State Semifinals: Two (1952, 1954)

State Championships: None

Notable Players: George Strohmeyer (1941), Pete Odom (1943), Efraim Vela (1949), Don Bunn (1951), Gary Rankin (1952), Joe Mencha (1952), Reynaldo Torres (1952), Gerald Lambert (1954), Bucky Rodriguez (1961), Ruben Castilla (1971), Kent Sharp (1974), Marshall Mangum (1974), Ruben Garza (1976), Joel Rios (1979), Chance Bear Crouch (1983), Mark Morgan (1987), Joe Menchaca (1989)