Midland High running back Evan Taylor carries the football during practice, Aug. 24, 2026, at Memorial Stadium.
Christopher Hadorn/Reporter-Telegram
El Paso Pebble Hills won’t be as familiar with Midland High’s offense this time around.
The Bulldogs football team hosts the Spartans in their 2026 season opener at 7 p.m. Friday at Astound Broadband Stadium.
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It will be the fourth time in three years that MHS and Pebble Hills have clashed on the gridiron.
But this time the Spartans will be preparing for an entirely new offense as the Bulldogs installed a spread offense this year after operating a triple option from 2021-25.
“Obviously, we trade scrimmage film, so they’ve seen it,” MHS head coach Thad Fortune said of his new offense. “Whatever little advantage is there, I think that will wear off pretty quick and it will come down to execution on both sides and taking care of the football. Whoever does their job better for longer. This spring they maybe worked on the option a little bit I would assume, but I’m sure word got out as well. People talk. News travels. The goal is never to try to catch anybody off guard anyway because you only get to do that one week. We’ve got to play.”
Fortune and the Bulldogs unveiled their new offense when they scrimmaged Wichita Falls Memorial and Killeen Ellison, but playing an actual game will be an entirely new test.
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“There’s no reps like game reps and there’s no situations like game situations,” Fortune said. “When you’re doing something new, the first time a scrimmage is good. It gives you an assemblance of game-like situations. A scrimmage isn’t like a Friday night game. There’s still things that we’ve got to work through and things we’re going to have to learn in non-district. But I think we’re going to be well prepared. It’s going to be a great test to see where we are and what else we need to work on.”
Junior quarterback Holt Howard combined for four touchdown passes for MHS in its two scrimmages.
Junior wide receiver Devin Rodriquez, who was moved over from cornerback, had two TD receptions and scored two rushing TDs in the pair of scrimmages.
Junior wide receiver Walker Campbell also caught a pair of TD passes.
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The Bulldogs will face a capable offensive counterpart with Pebble Hills, which returns seven starters from last year’s 7-4 playoff team.
The Spartans are led by dual-threat quarterback Joe Fernandez, who threw for 1,892 yards and 23 TD passes as a junior, while rushing for 609 yards.
Fernandez has dangerous weapons as well as junior receiver LJ Bailey holds offers from New Mexico, UTEP and UTSA.
Fernandez engineered a last-minute touchdown drive to carry the Spartans to a 13-12 comeback win over MHS in the 2025 meeting. The loss was characteristic of the Bulldogs’ 2025 season as they dropped five close games that they had a chance to win in the fourth quarter during a 3-7 year.
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“Just anytime you find a good non-district opponent, you always take advantage, it’s hard to find non-district games to schedule in our situation,” Fortune said of playing the Spartans for the fourth time in three years. “Coach (Ryan) Warner and a program like Pebble Hills is just a great matchup for us. I think if they’re not the best team in El Paso every year, they’re one of the best teams in El Paso every year. They’re going to be a playoff team. It’s a good first test for us. Last year, they got us. It was a good football game. They got us there in the end, so I am looking forward to another one this Friday.”
– Free safety Carson Ham, offensive guard Jesus Garcia and defensive end Luke Anderson have been named Midland High team captains. All three players are seniors.
“They’re unbelievable kids,” Fortune said. “There’s no doubt they have the respect of their teammates for the way they work and the way they practice. They do a good job of being great leaders, great teammates. Carson and Jesus have been on varsity since their sophomore year, so they did a really good job. They have played playoff games and have been a part of big-time football late in the season. Their leadership is really outstanding. Luke Anderson played linebacker in a backup role for us last season, but had an unbelievable offseason, an unbelievable summer. He’s just a tremendous kid. He’s anchoring our D-line. He’s just a great player and a great young man.”
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–Fortune said the Bulldogs suffered some injuries early in two-a-days but it looks like they will get everybody back for Friday’s season opener against Pebble Hills.
“It’s always good to see guys step up and adapt and then you get the guys back,” Fortune said. “It’s a way that kind of builds depth unintentionally. I feel like we’re pretty healthy.”
–The Bulldogs’ radio broadcasts have been moved to KMRK (96.1 FM) this season. The games will be streamed on Midland ISD’s Hudl page, which can be accessed at https://fan.hudl.com/district/67ae15af3d210a077403a8ae/Midland%20Independent%20School%20District .
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