Midland High receiver Devin Rodriquez fights off an El Paso Pebble Hills defender in the season opener, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High senior DB Carson Ham leaps for a pass breakup versus El Paso Pebble Hills, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High’s Walker Campbell makes a fingertip catch for a long gain versus El Paso Pebble Hills, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High Bulldog running back Evan Taylor walks on tightropes on the sideline for a short gain against El Paso Pebble Hills, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High quarterback Holt Howard on the run versus El Paso Pebble Hills, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Thomas Stewart fights off an El Paso Pebble Hills’ double team in Midland High’s 2026 season opener, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High Bulldog DB/WR MJ Washington looks for daylight after a short reception against El Paso Pebble Hills in the season opener, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
The 2026 Midland High Bulldogs take the field to face El Paso Pebble Hills, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High and El Paso Pebble Hills captains shake hands at midfield prior to their football game, Aug. 28, 2026, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Forrest Allen/For the Reporter-Telegram
Midland High couldn’t get its offense and defense clicking at the same time during Friday’s season opener.
The Bulldogs’ defense kept them in the ballgame early on against El Paso Pebble Hills, but MHS faced a three-score deficit when its offense finally got going in the second half.
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Division I wide receiver recruit LJ Bailey had six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 31-17 win over the Bulldogs in a non-district football game at Astound Broadband Stadium.
The MHS spread offense, which was just installed this past offseason, didn’t score a touchdown until Evan Taylor scored on a 19-yard run with 1 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Junior Walker Campbell highlighted the Bulldogs’ spread attack with nine catches for 105 yards.
“We were kind of disjointed in the first half, but the defense played absolutely phenomenal and we just couldn’t get going offensively,” MHS head coach Thad Fortune said. “And then in the second half, we finally got it going offensively but it was little, too late. Our defense was out there a lot. This was a game you have to complement each other and you just have to play well together. We just didn’t put enough good quarters together and credit to Pebble Hills. They’ve got a good football team, good playmakers. They do a good job of what they do. Our goal is to get better every week and that’s what we have to do.”
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After leading 10-3 at halftime, Pebble Hills (1-0) changed the momentum on its opening possession of the second half when punter Michael Melucci converted a fourth-and-1 with a 13-yard run on a fake punt.
The Spartans cashed in on the play when Joe Fernandez completed a 19-yard TD pass to Ian Sublasky, extending the lead to 17-3 with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter.
“That fake punt I think that was kind of the spark that got everybody going, got their heads up again,” Pebble Hills head coach Ryan Warner said. “It might have deflated (Midland High), but I think Coach Fortune is doing an amazing job there. It’s going to be difficult there with the (offense) shift, but they’re on the right track so they’re going to progress and get better every week.”
The Spartans led 24-3 after Bailey scored on a 51-yard pass from Fernandez with 4:47 left in the third quarter.
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MHS finally showed life with its offense as Campbell had three catches for 37 yards on the next possession to set up Taylor’s score.
But the backbreaker for the Bulldogs (0-1) occurred on the next Spartan drive when Gianni Ponce had catches for 15 yards on third-and-15, 10 yards on third-and-7, and 18 yards on third-and-10. The third down conversions set up a 20-yard TD pass from Fernandez to Bailey with 8:52 remaining, pulling the Spartans ahead at 31-10.
“I’m very proud of execution,” Warner said. “It’s days of reps and when it comes together at the right time, it’s fun to watch. Those big third down conversions, we keep the ball moving, keep their offense on the sideline, keep our defense rested. A lot of seniors had some big games today. I’m really proud of them. LJ our receiver did an amazing job. Joe, our senior quarterback and three-year starter, showed what he was capable of and doing what he does best when the game is on the line, making things happen. Gianni Ponce had some big catches today to move the sticks.”
MHS junior quarterback Holt Howard scored on a 4-yard run, cutting its deficit to 31-17 with 4:52 left.
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But the Bulldogs’ chances for a miracle were crushed when they couldn’t convert third-and-short and fourth-and-short at midfield on their final possession.
“I am always encouraged by our effort, our guys play hard,” Fortune said. “They’re great kids and they play hard. They always care, they’re always in the fight, so that what makes these kind of nights tough because you play these games win, so you want to win. But I’m always encouraged by their effort and the way they stick together and that was the case again tonight.”
Howard completed 19 of 28 passes for 192 yards, while Devin Rodriquez had seven catches for 74 yards.
Fernandez threw for 185 yards, rushed for 85 yards and accounted for four total TDs.
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EL PASO PEBBLE HILLS 31, MIDLAND HIGH 17
Pebble Hills 10 0 14 7 — 31
Midland 0 3 7 7 — 17
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PH – FG Michael Melucci 49, 7:25
PH – Joe Fernandez 7 run (Melucci kick), 0:26
MHS – FG Rylan Marino 32, 7:02
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PH – Ian Sublasky 19 pass from Fernandez (Melucci kick), 8:24
PH – LJ Bailey 51 pass from Fernandez (Melucci kick), 4:47
MHS – Evan Taylor 19 run (Marino kick), 1:11
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PH – Bailey 20 pass from Fernandez (Melucci kick), 8:52
MHS – Holt Howard 4 run (Marino kick), 4:52
PH MHS
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First downs 17 13
Rushes-yards 28-151 27-69
Passing yards 185 192
Comp-Att.-Int. 15-27-0 19-29-0
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Punts-avg. 3-23.3 3-34.7
Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-57 5-55
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RUSHING – Pebble Hills, Joe Fernandez 16-85, Braylen Nelson 3-27, Oscar Hernandez 7-24, Michael Melucci 1-13, Jacob Dermony 1-2. Midland, Evan Taylor 9-33, Holt Howard 16-29, Devin Rodriquez 2-7.
PASSING – Pebble Hills, Fernandez 15-27-0—185. Midland, Howard 19-28-0—192.
RECEIVING – Pebble Hills, LJ Bailey 6-101, Gianni Ponce 3-43, Ian Sublasky 2-33, O. Hernandez 1-8, Freddy Mendoza 1-4, Nelson 2-(-4). Midland, Walker Campbell 9-105, Rodriquez 7-74, MJ Washington 1-7, Taylor 2-6.
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MISSED FIELD GOALS – Pebble Hills, Midland, Rylan Marino 43 (blocked).