GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — For McAllen Memorial, 2015 is all about remembering the feeling.
After ripping off nine straight wins to finish last regular season, the Mustangs were upset by Del Rio in the opening round of the playoffs — the third straight year Memorial failed to win a postseason game.
The Mustangs have been clinging to those memories, recalling what it was like to get on the bus after letting their chance slip away.
“That awful feeling, knowing how much we could have done,” linebacker Sam Hinojosa said. “I never want to feel like that in my entire life. I definitely don’t want to feel like that this year, and we’re not going to.”
Memorial again enters the season looking like one of the Valley’s best teams. Two-time defending All-Valley Player of the Year Trevor Speights is back to carry the offense, and six starters return on defense.
The talented senior class is 21-9 during the past three regular seasons but has lost all three playoff games: 41-20 against Harlingen in 2012, 58-20 against Harlingen in 2013, and 34-20 against Del Rio last season.
“I’m not going to be satisfied about just doing good in the regular season,” Hinojosa said. “I want to win in the playoffs.”
The finish to the 2014 season left a particularly sour taste.
Memorial, entering at 9-1, was a huge favorite against a 5-4-1 Del Rio team that needed to win its final regular season game to secure a playoff spot.
Coach Bill Littleton said the team underachieved, and Speights said the Mustangs “choked.”
“All we’ve talked about all summer is getting past the first round,” senior quarterback Jonathan Sanchez said. “There’s a lot of disappointment and anger that’s building up. We’re ready to come out and show what all that anger has formed.”
Hinojosa said Memorial overlooked Del Rio last season. Instead of thinking about Game 1, the Mustangs were looking ahead to the their annual goal of reaching the third or fourth round.
For Speights and the rest of the senior class, 2015 is the last chance to get there. He and Hinojosa both said a fourth failure would stick with them for a long time. Littleton said he isn’t going to harp on the past shortcomings, instead reminding the team of its potential. The seniors already know what’s on the line and how they want to handle it.
“There is pressure, but the pressure was more sophomore and junior year,” Sanchez said. “Now it’s my senior year. I don’t have time for pressure. It’s time to play.”
LOOKING AHEAD
After rushing for 2,655 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, Speights is just 1,130 yards away from the Valley’s all-time record.
“I just want to win games,” Speights said. “If I get it, I get it. If I don’t, I don’t.”
Speights has been working to bulk up during the summer, continually adding muscle to get up to his current weight of 205, which he said is idael.
Speights said the increase is mostly geared toward his future in college. He is mulling eight Division-I offers: Arizona, Missouri, Rice, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas State and Vanderbilt.
He plans to take official visits throughout the fall, but he’s down to three finalists with a clear frontrunner. He declined to specify which schools.
“I’m just waiting for the right moment to announce,” Speights said. “My decision is pretty much made up.”
BACK IN THE SADDLE
Jonathan Sanchez was Memorial’s starting quarterback as a sophomore in 2012 before splitting time last year. Now, he’s back as the team’s No. 1 option under center.
“Right now, it’s just applying what I’ve already learned my first three years,” Sanchez said. “It’s just apply and get the job done.”
He said the biggest improvement he’s made in three years as a quarterback is his footwork, removing the bad basketball habit of fading away on his pass attempts.
Sanchez has also developed as a leader, working to become more assertive.
“He’s going to be a force for us,” offensive coordinator Marcus Kaufmann said. “He’s not just going to be a guy that’s back there. He’s going to be a force.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
Memorial returns just one offensive line starter from last season’s team: guard Teddy Garcia. The rest of the players will be taking their first varsity snap, but Littleton is confident in their ability. The group has similar size to last year’s unit, ranging from 220 to 275 pounds.
“Our O-line is doing a lot better than I thought,” Minor said. “We only have one returner, but they’re doing really well, and they’re going to keep getting better as the season goes on.”
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PROGNOSIS
With All-Valley Player of the Year Trevor Speights headlining a strong group of skill players, Memorial should remain high powered on offense. Defensively, the Mustangs return six starters. The aim for Memorial will be winning a playoff game after being knocked out in the first round three consecutive seasons.
Projected 2015 record: 11-2
TENURE
Coach: Bill Littleton
Year at school: 13th
Record at school: 78-56
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