GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Campbell Speights said he was nervous on his first career carry Thursday night, very nearly fumbling after a 2-yard gain. He had watched his older brother, Trevor, dominate at McAllen Memorial for four years, but he didn’t know what to expect upon being thrust into the varsity starting lineup.
That one carry was all he needed to shake any jitters.
Speights took his second career rush for a 67-yard touchdown and finished his debut game with 17 carries for 150 yards and 3 scores as McAllen Memorial took down Sharyland Pioneer 40-27 in both teams’ season opener at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“That was great,” Speights said. “It was a dream come true. Seeing your brother do it for four years, it’s just amazing to finally get the opportunity.”
Speights was one half of a dominant Memorial rushing game, as fullback Emilio Mendez came on strong in the second half to finish with 24 carries, 202 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In total, McAllen Memorial picked up 348 yards on the ground and did not attempt a pass in the second half.
“This is Mustang football,” coach Bill Littleton said. “You know what we’re about. The kids rose to the occasion, and both of those running backs did a heck of a job tonight.”
Stepping into the starting running back vacancy left after Trevor graduated the Valley’s all-time leading rusher, Campbell showed quick feet, impressive moves and breakaway speed. On his opening score, he took a toss right, made a defender miss with a juke and scampered 67 yards.
He found the end zone again in the second quarter, breaking two tackles and spinning around a third defender for a 30-yard score. He completed the hat trick from 1 yard out early in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a talented young man and the sky is the limit for him,” Littleton said. “We just have to get him bigger and get him stronger, and he’ll be something special.”
Campbell said he wants to avoid the inevitable comparisons to Trevor, who opened his historic career as a freshman with a very similar stat line: 11 carries, 157 yards and 2 touchdowns against Edinburg High on Sept. 1, 2012.
Campbell said he received a text from Trevor before Thursday’s game reminding him: “Run low. Stay behind your pads. Don’t run high.”
“He coaches me up a lot,” Campbell said. “I just listen to what he says, and everything he tells me just works. It’s amazing.”
Campbell amassed most of his production in the first half, gaining 113 yards. Mendez took over down the stretch, racking up 168 yards after the halftime break. Even at 215 pounds, Mendez showed off his 4.56-second 40-yard dash speed, outrunning a defensive back on his career-long 55-yard touchdown.
The outburst was far and away a new career high for Mendez, who finished last season with 584 yards and 7 touchdowns as a block-first player.
“I was really surprised,” Mendez said. “I expected to block more for Campbell, because I was used to more blocking for his brother. … It was really fun, just seeing the open space and going for it.”