GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Entering tonight’s game against Edinburg North, McAllen Memorial senior running back Trevor Speights needs just 283 yards to tie the Valley’s all-time career rushing record, a mark set by Memorial’s Bradley Stephens from 2003-06.
Although Speights and coach Bill Littleton are aware of the milestone, it won’t impact how the Mustangs approach their game against the Cougars at 7 p.m. in McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“It’s something we’re not harping about,” Littleton said. “If it happens (tonight), it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We’re not going into the ball game saying we’re going to give it to him, give it to him, give it to him.”
That seemed to be the game plan during Saturday’s 63-44 win against San Benito, a game during which Speights ran 34 times for a career-high 373 yards and five touchdowns. The outburst pushed Speights’ season total to 847 yards and his career mark to 7,520. Stephens finished his career with 7,803 yards.
With only four days between games, Littleton said the Mustangs have cut back on the normal practice schedule, working a lot in half shell rather than a full uniform. Memorial also heads into the game with a smaller game plan on both offense and defense.
“The main thing is trying to take care of the kids and get us back on track,” Littleton said.
Speights has had no issue getting on track this season, averaging 282.3 yards per game — just 0.7 shy of the total he needs to tie the record.
He’ll square off against an Edinburg North defense that shows multiple fronts and has been serviceable against the run, allowing 133.7 yards per game on the ground.
If tonight’s game turns into a blowout — Edinburg North has been outscored 76-49 this season, while Memorial has dominated opponents 161-83 — then Littleton said he may track Speights’ progress toward the record.
“Sometimes, I’ll make a call up and see how many yards he has,” Littleton said. “Sometimes we don’t worry about it, because of the closeness of the ball game.”
Also following closely tonight will be Stephens, who decided to attend his first game of the season after Littleton informed him of Trevor’s proximity to the record early in the week.
If Speights doesn’t hit the threshold this week, Stephens said he’ll be back for Memorial’s District 30-6A opener against La Joya High on Sept. 25 in McAllen.
“I would assume he’ll probably get it this week, just with the way he’s been playing,” Stephens said.
Speights grew up watching Stephens play, and the two have become acquainted by way of going to the same church. Stephens said he’s never really talked with Speights about the milestone, outside of occasionally joking to “save me a record.”
“I’ve known him for many years since he was little, so it’s fun to see him grow up now, do his thing and be able to make the record,” Stephens said. “I think we all kind of knew it was going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.”
After McAllen Memorial’s Wednesday afternoon practice was canceled due to weather, attempts to reach Speights by phone were unsuccessful.