AUSTIN — For most running backs, what McCallum senior Alexander Julian did Thursday night would have been a big-time performance. For Julian, however, it was just another walk in the park.
Julian rushed for 245 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries while senior quarterback Max Perez chipped in five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) in a 56-13 win against Austin High at House Park in Austin.
“It was another good win,” McCallum Head Coach Charles Taylorsaid. “I feel good about my kids. It doesn’t matter who we play, it’s how we play. We’re just going to go out there and do what we do, try to get better week to week and see where the chips fall.”
Julian is now up to 1,307 yards on the season and is well on his way to his preseason goal of 2,000 yards. He’s also up to 14 touchdowns, which is more than twice as many as he scored last season (six).
Julian scored on a 69-yard dash on the second play of the game and again from 41 yards out in the second quarter to give McCallum (6-0 overall, 2-0 in District 25-5A) a 21-7 lead going into the break.
“Every time I get the ball I’m trying to score so I’m just trying to get as many yards as possible very play. We started off not that aggressive but then we became just more aggressive and that’s how we’ve been all year, just outworking the other team,” Julian said. “It just feel good to know that I set a goal for myself and I’m on pace. I said I wanted 2,000 in the summer time and I’m on pace for that. I just got to keep going. I can’t let up now.”
With the defense bracing for Julian, Perez began calling his own number and scored on runs of 10, 11 and 7 yards on McCallum’s first three possessions of the second half.
He finished with 117 yards on the ground and 87 yards through the air on 4-of-7 passing. Both of his touchdown strikes went to senior Mason Bryant, who hauled in a 41-yard reception down the right sideline in the first quarter and a went up for a 24-yard grab in the fourth.
“Offensive line, honestly, it starts with them. They blocked their hearts out tonight and really dominated their opponents in front of them so shout out to them for getting it started for me. I was just able to make the plays,” Perez said. “Alexander Julian is a workhorse. For him to get me those 30-yards, 40-yard plays and then I just get to set a quick two-yards, three-yard touchdown, I just got to give all shouts out to him. They do the work for me to where I can just be the guy to be on the paper I guess.”
The Knights’ defensive line gave the Maroons fits. Austin High (3-3, 1-1) rushed for just six yards, gave up five sacks and had a number of holding penalties. Junior quarterback Sam Saxton completed 18-of-36 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. He was replaced in the final period by freshman Charles Wright, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 131 yards and a score. Junior Sawyer Berry led the Maroons in receiving with eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Senior John Schneider added six grabs for 75 yards.
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