Bulldogs aim to snap streak

Alexander last defeated United back in 2017. The Navy & Gold feel ready to finally snap the losing streak on Friday.

By Garrett Kroeger

Two thousand, five hundred and fifty-five days. In simple terms, seven years.

In that amount of time, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has emerged as one of the best to ever play the position, the Boston Celtics claimed their 18th NBA title and Mexico elected a woman president. However, while those historic events – among many others – have occurred throughout that time, that’s how long the Alexander Bulldogs last defeated their northside rival, the United Longhorns, too.

“I’m feeling pretty confident,” senior linebacker Frankie Fuentes said. “We have been studying our film. Practices have been great. We know this team has beaten us every single year, but I am feeling confident this year. I feel like we have a good chance on Friday.”

The last time Alexander defeated United was all the way back in 2017, when it won 18-15. Since then, the Longhorns have dominated the rivalry. The closest the Bulldogs have come to snapping the streak was back in 2020 when they lost 15-12.

Now, unlike in year’s past, this game won’t decide who will win a district title. United has already secured the championship. But bragging rights are still on the line and that’s something Alexander craves to claim, especially its seniors.

“I’ve been on the losing side of this rivalry the past three years,” senior offensive lineman William Omenski said. “It’s always heartbreaking to lose. But we have taken it as motivation. We are all fired up to beat them.”

This year’s senior class, like a few others before it, have yet to beat the Orange & White. Every single season, the Bulldogs’ seniors enter the matchup with high hopes, only for them to get deflated. But this year, the seniors are confident they can finally help Alexander upend the dreaded 2,555-day losing streak, especially if they execute the way they should.

“We need to focus on our keys,” Fuentes said. “Everyone has to do their part to come out with a win. We can’t overthink it.”

United enters the game with arguably the district’s best offense, averaging 28.7 points and 358.9 total yards per game. However, Alexander enters the contest with the district’s best defense, only allowing a mere 17.7 points per game – the average drops to 13 in district matchups.

The Bulldogs know they will have their hands full with the Longhorns’ passing attack. United quarterback Jorge Luna has thrown for 2,097 yards and 24 touchdowns this year with his No. 1 target being Colt Lozano, who has caught 78 passes for 1,126 yards and 13 scores. While Luna and Lozano have been a deadly duo all year, Alexander is confident its defense can handle them.

Then offensively, the Bulldogs feel that if they can get their running game going, they can put up points as the Longhorns have struggled to stop the run this year. Alexander has proven that when its rushing attack is clicking, it can put up points. On the ground, the Bulldogs are led by senior Joe Fernandez, who has run for 1,166 yards and six touchdowns this season. Brennan Kisslinger and Gael Rubio have been effective in the run game, too, for Alexander, chipping in 333 and 312 yards, respectively.

“I’m excited,” Omenski said. “It’s our biggest game every single year. The stakes are always high. It’s safe to say that we hate them and they hate us. It’s a rivalry.”

Two thousand, five hundred and fifty-five days. How do you measure seven years?

In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee?

For Alexander, it has measured those long seven years by the last time it has defeated United. Seven long and dreaded years since the Bulldogs have last beaten their hated rivals.

Alexander has come close to beating the Orange & White throughout that time, only to fall short every time. However, this season, the Bulldogs are confident that they can finally snap the streak. And they will give it their all to finally topple the Longhorns for the first time in seven years.

“I’m getting chills thinking about the game,” Fuentes said. “They are a good team. It’s been too long since we’ve beaten them. Losing against them last year for a district title, we have been wanting to beat them since the beginning of this season. We want to beat them.”