GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Edinburg North coach Rene Saenz entered Thursday’s game against McAllen Memorial wanting to limit big plays from running back Trevor Speights.
That goal unraveled when Speights ran for a 91-yard touchdown on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Edinburg North’s hopes of winning evaporated almost as quickly, as McAllen Memorial cruised to a 44-14 win at McAllen Memorial Stadium.
“Every week in practice, we try to get better and better, and that’s what we proved today,” Speights said. “We’re going into district with momentum, and thank God we have momentum going into district. We look to win our district.”
Memorial dominated on offense in the first quarter, scoring a touchdown on each of its first three possessions. The Mustangs amassed 232 yards of offense over the first 12 minutes, compared to just 9 for Edinburg North.
“We couldn’t stop them tonight if we had 15 guys out there,” Edinburg North coach Rene Saenz said.
Speights carried 16 times for 215 yards and two scores, as Memorial racked up 357 yards on the ground. Speights also had a 50-yard touchdown run in the third quarter called back on a holding penalty.
For the season, Speights has 989 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s eclipsed the 200-yard mark in every game and is on pace to rush for 2,472 yards this season.
The reigning All-Valley Player of the Year even contributed on special teams, returning a punt 74 yards for a touchdown to push the margin to 44-7 early in the fourth quarter.
“In practice, I’ve been catching punts more,” Speights said. “Our punt-return coach, he set up a new blocking scheme, and I just hit the sideline and I was gone.”
The Mustangs led 31-7 at halftime on the strength of Speights touchdowns of 91 and 49 yards, plus a 1-yard touchdown from Aaron Villarreal and a 33-yard pass from Jonathan Sanchez to DJ Talamantez.
Before Thursday, Sanchez had completed only 1 of 6 pass attempts on the season.
Memorial’s young defense continued to show signs of development on Thursday, holding North to 258 total yards. Defensive back Michael Garza hauled in a pair of interceptions.
The Mustangs allowed 470 yards in a Week 1 loss to Sharyland but have given up just 443 combined the past two weeks.
“We played pretty good tonight,” McAllen Memorial coach Bill Littleton said. “We’re getting better. We’re beginning to get the puzzle put together. … It’s taken those kids a little bit longer to gel, but we’re beginning to gel, and we like what we see there.”
RETURNING RECEIVER
McAllen Memorial wideout DJ Johnson started on Thursday, his first action of the season after suffering a broken foot during an offseason basketball game.
“I felt great,” Johnson said. “I’m kind of rusty, but I’ll get there.”
Johnson was targeted on the first play of Memorial’s second drive but dropped what looked like a sure touchdown pass on a fly route.
He was targeted on two other deep passes in the first half, neither of which connected, before notching a 17-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
Given that Johnson had only been in practice for three days, Littleton was not surprised by the slow start.
“He’s definitely a threat,” Littleton said. “Just got to get that rust off. And he will.”
COUGARS SCORE
Michael Cantu continued to look like Edinburg North’s top offensive weapon on Thursday, scoring the Cougars’ lone first-half touchdown on a 27-yard pass from quarterback Martin Rodriguez.
Cantu has scored in every game for the Cougars this season and has 15 receptions for 341 yards overall.
NORTH’S INJURY
Rodriguez left the game in the third quarter, returned for one series and then sat out the entire final period. Saenz said Rodriguez is still nursing the same ankle injury that cost him most of 2013.
“He’s going to have to deal with that throughout the season,” Saenz said. “That’s just something he has.”
Rodriguez finished 6 of 19 for 88 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions, but could’ve had a bigger game. In the third quarter, Angel Barron dropped a 37-yard touchdown pass.