NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — On Friday, McAllen Memorial was not the ball-moving machine fans are accustomed to seeing, at least in short-yardage situations. But the Mustangs still cashed in on big-yardage plays to hold off the Sharyland High Rattlers 27-21 in overtime at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Campbell Speights broke runs of 75 and 69 yards for scores that put Memorial ahead both times.
On his first scoring sprint, he busted to the outside, where running back A.J. Castro laid down a monster block that gave Speights open field to showcase his wheels.
Senior quarterback Sean Skaugen also saved his best runs for the biggest moments, going for a 77-yard dash in the third quarter and breaking off two critical runs in overtime, first for 13 yards and then a 12-yard scoring scamper.
“When we can break one, we’ll take it,” Speights said. “Not the type of win we wanted tonight, but we’ll take it. That was my boy A.J. I know my team is there for me. We’re a tight group. I say this all the time. When it comes down the wire, I know my defense is getting on the field and making a stop.”
Speights said Friday’s game reminded him of when his Mustangs fell to Weslaco East in overtime during his freshman year. This time, his squad walked away content.
Offensive lineman Alex Escobar was a big part of the Mustangs’ ground game that ended up with 354 rushing yards.
“I felt like a lot of those where we didn’t get many yards, we didn’t open up the holes the best we can,” Escobar said. “Those big plays, we played them perfectly, and that’s why they end up in touchdowns, long touchdowns. These three games are probably the hardest games we’ll be playing all year. So we try to do our best in these (non-district) games to help us throughout district games.”
Sharyland didn’t go down easy. The Rattlers responded to all of the Mustangs’ blows in regulation, just not always right away.
The first points for the visitors came from their most dynamic man on the field, Edgar Longoria. He scored two rushing touchdowns. He was 12-for-22 passing for more than 150 yards, but what stood out was his ability to keep plays going and bail out from pressure at the right time. He went for more than 100 yards on the ground.
Danny Escalera and Adrian Solis both had more than 50 yards rushing. Solis scored a rushing TD.
Memorial coach Bill Littleton said even though the win was far from perfect, edging an old foe was a good feeling.
“We need to get better at some things that you’re doing, but in the end, when you get a win, you got to smile and be happy about and be proud of what your kids did,” Littleton said.
Sharyland will look back on two missed field goals in the first half. The Rattlers also didn’t make the Mustangs pay for two missed extra points — one in the third quarter and one in overtime.
Both teams had moments of brilliance on the defensive side of the ball. On multiple occasions, especially early, Sharyland stuffed runs up the middle. Javo Lopez and Brandon Villarreal were run-stop specialists when the ball went up the gut.
Memorial’s Michael Morales led the team in tackles and quickly moved up from the secondary if a run was trying to reach the second level.
The game ended with an incomplete pass over the middle from Longoria to a receiver who might have been held. Pleas for a flag to extend the game went unheard.
Next week, McAllen Memorial will host RGVSports.com’s No. 1 team, Edinburg Vela. Sharyland will try to slow down 2-0 La Joya High.