The clock winds down as the quarter comes to an end. The McCallum fans countdown, “5…4…3…2…1.” The student section erupts with excitement. The football players storm the field and hug their teammates. The seniors have fulfilled their goal of winning the Taco Bowl Shack for the second year in a row.

“It felt good senior year to win Taco Shack,” cornerback Tyrell Washington said “All the seniors on their team [Anderson] have to leave high school knowing we beat them in the Taco Shack Bowl.”

Back on the field, the cheerleaders start to dance to the school fight song. The football team huddles up to receive the trophy from Taco Shack owner, Orlando Arriaga.

“It was such a great feeling to hoist that trophy up two years in a row,” said senior running back Alexander Julian, who played a huge part in the team’s win. Julian rushed for four touchdowns and 237 yards to lead a prolific team rushing effort. Both running back Deron Gage and quarterback Max Perez rushed for more than 100 yards. The team gained 453 yards on the ground.

The defense intercepted Trojan quarterback Davis Adams four times.

The series is now tied at 8-8 between McCallum and Anderson. Since 2002, the annual tradition has kicked off the Austin ISD football season
This year’s seniors reflected on their time in football and playing the Taco Shack Bowl.

“I’m going to miss the rivalry games,games like the Taco Shack Bowl, because your teammates all get really hyped up for [them],” defensive end Jack Switzer said. “It’s a really great atmosphere to play in.”

As the Taco Shack Bowl has gone on, the players on the team change over the years, but there are pregame traditions that have been in place since the beginning of McCallum Football.

“We have chants that are used to get everyone’s emotions together and get everyone on the same page.” senior Tackle Estevan Hernandez said.

Many players have praise for how their position coaches have helped them grow as players.

“Coach Osorio, he expects intensity every day,” outside linebacker J.B. Faught said. “If we come out, and there’s no juice, he tries to get it out of us. We can’t just have one good day of practice; we have to have a good practice every day. He tries to evoke a response out of players. He tells me and all the seniors, ‘Every day out here is a blessing. Seniors, this is your last ride. Every day you have one less practice left.’”

As for where the team will go from here, senior running back Alexander Julian said, “We just have to keep winning every game. Take it one week at a time.”