The Monitor’s first Game of the Week is a matchup of two of the Valley’s biggest powerhouses: McAllen Memorial and Sharyland High.
The two will clash at 7:30 p.m. Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, the first game held at the stadium since it underwent nearly $5 million in renovations.
When the teams met last season, Sharyland High came away with a decisive win, doubling up Memorial 59-28. But now the Rattlers must replace a monstrous senior class and weather the effects of the split to form Sharyland Pioneer, while the Mustangs return 10 starters including the two time reigning All-Valley Player of the Year, Trevor Speights.
Speights ran for 2,655 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, and on Friday he will continue his march towards the Valley’s all-time career record. He needs just 1,130 yards to match the career mark of 7,803 set by Bradley Stephens of McAllen Memorial from 2003 to 2006.
After going 9-2 last year, the Mustangs bring back talent at the other offensive skill positions, as well. Senior quarterback Jonathan Sanchez is back under center after working as the starter as a sophomore and splitting time as a junior, while DJ Johnson returns at wideout after catching eight touchdown passes in 2014.
The Mustangs have just a single offensive line starter back, but the group boasts similar size to last year’s strong unit.
Last season’s middling defense has three starters back up front: defensive tackle Ricky Minor and defensive ends JD Islas and Paul Zuniga. Linebacker Sam Hinojosa and defensive backs Joey Delgado and Ozzy Salazar will also be key.
Sharyland High’s key pieces are tougher to identify, with only four starters returning after the team graduated 46 seniors. The 2015 season will test Sharyland’s ability to stay on top after the split with Sharyland Pioneer. Yes, the Rattlers are 29-1 during the past three regular seasons, but they’ll be getting only about half as many incoming players as before the split.
Senior Seth Carter projects to be the new starter at quarterback, moving over from wideout to provide a mobile and athletic threat. Manny Campos and Juan Zuniga should be his top threats at wideout.
On defense, the Rattlers will still emphasize speed and quickness from their 3-4 look, but with a lot of new players. Defensive end Beto Ruiz, linebackers Edgar Gomez and Dylan Salinas, and cornerbacks Brandon Garcia and Romeo De Leon all figure to be major factors.
Each will have to prove ready for a larger role to slow down a Memorial offense the projects to be one of the Valley’s best.