NATHANIEL MATA | THE MONITOR
McALLEN — McAllen Memorial saved its best game for last in a 60-21 rout of McAllen Rowe on Friday. With the win, Memorial is outright district champions for the fourth consecutive season.
The Mustangs (8-2, 6-0) played a dominant game led by their offensive line and, of course, star running back Campbell Speights. Speights had three rushing touchdowns, a receiving TD and even a 40-yard pass completion to Ethan Bazan in the first half.
After the Speights-Bazan connection with Memorial already leading by three scores, the Mustangs decided to reward the O-line. The Mustangs called No. 60, right guard Aaron Ramirez, to be the ball carrier from 2 yards out.
On his second try, the big man found his way to pay dirt for a score.
The three-year varsity senior was all smiles when he took a pause from posing with the championship trophy after the game.
“It feels awesome, to be honest,” Ramirez said. “This is a play that we’ve been trying to work out for a couple weeks or so. Now the question was, ‘When are we going to run it?’ Now that I’m the running back and I have the offensive line to depend on, usually it’s vice versa, and it just felt awesome.”
Campbell Speights had a marquee performance early to put the game out of reach. He only needed to go full blast early, and as the game went on, the Mustangs showed their depth with other runners getting in on the action.
“All we’ve got to do really is just open the hole, and these guys do the rest,” Ramirez said. “These are just some great, talented backs: Campbell, A.J. (Castro), Emiliano Cruz, all the backs that touched the ball just did an outstanding job just going upfield, making a move on a defender or two and next thing you know, you’re in the end zone.”
Castro, Cruz and Johnny Larson were all rushing scorers for Memorial.
Speights said he was trying to emulate the play of a certain standout college back in the running for the Heisman Trophy.
“I was trying to do my best impression of Saquon Barkley,” Speights said. “We came out, we played well today. We knew there was a lot riding on this game from district champs, city champs, who we’re going to play in the playoffs. This is a game we really wanted to win. We knew that we’ve been on their board since day one, just like they’ve been on ours.”
The Mustangs set the tone not only with offense, but also with defense. Michael Morales picked off Rowe’s Jesus Sanchez and returned the ball for six points to put Memorial up 14-0.
The sophomore defensive back credited the upperclassmen he’s had a chance to learn from as keys to this year.
“These guys have been with me from the start. They’re just here to help me grow, and they’ve been doing that this whole season,” Morales said. “I think with their help, they’ve really helped me develop over the season.”
Coach Bill Littleton, who celebrated his 100th win earlier this season, was happy to see his team go undefeated in district again to earn the hardware.
“Any time you can win a district championship, it’s always fun,” Littleton said. “You put four together, and it’s really fun.”
The only suspense left was if the Mustangs could pitch the shutout. But the Warriors got some offense going late to build momentum entering a first-round playoff game against Laredo Alexander.
McAllen Rowe’s Noe Ramirez took a kick return 99 yards to get the Warriors on the board and break up the potential shutout.
In the fourth, Jesus Sanchez found Jonas Ortiz — the player who had filled in at quarterback when Sanchez was injured — for a score. Sanchez also completed a TD pass to Ruben Saenz III.
The Mustangs will look to avenge their first-round exit from a season ago. The Mustangs will host Laredo United South in bi-district.
“Now the best thing to do is just get ready, get focused again and play someone next week,” Speights said. “Who we got?”