McALLEN — McAllen Memorial has won eight district championships dating back to 2010 and has the potential to add to that number this season.
The Mustangs, who start the 2024 campaign as the No. 8-ranked team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Poll, return 13 starters from last year’s playoff squad ready to fight for the top spot in a new look District 16-5A DI with familiar rivals.
“I think we’re going to have a great season because our whole team is competitive, so throughout the whole summer, throughout every drill, we’re just fighting to be the best, working hard every day and never taking our foot off the gas,” senior running back JP Garza said. “Our expectation is to win every game and we’re going to compete in every game.”
The Mustangs finished 7-4 a season ago but went toe-to-toe against Valley powers Edinburg Vela and PSJA North to place third in 15-5A DI.
Now in District 16-5A DI along with Vela, McAllen High, McAllen Rowe, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, La Joya Palmview, Mission High and Rio Grande City, the Mustangs should be considered a top two favorite to win district along with the SaberCats.
The Memorial offense brings back six starters led by returning leading rusher JP Garza and last year’s district newcomer of the year winner in junior quarterback Kane Coy.
The senior Garza ran for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023 and is ready to handle plenty of touches after bulking up over the offseason. He’ll share the load with junior Jaydin Soliz, junior Christian Little, and potentially sophomore Braxton Speights, the younger brother of former Memorial greats Trevor and Campbell Speights.
Coy showed consistency during his first year as a starter in 2023, delivering some big time throws while also displaying running ability with 4.51 speed. Coy threw for 703 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 attempts last season and added 267 yards and one touchdown on 56 carries.
Coy and Garza are set to lead the Memorial offense along with returning offensive linemen Zeke Ozuna and Shawn Reyes.
Defensively, the Mustangs have experience at every level. Senior defensive end Erick Guajardo is a force up front after recording 44 stops, seven tackles for loss and four sacks, while safeties Nick Luna (50 tackles, two INTs) and Nehemiah Adebowale (22 tackles) provide athleticism and smarts in run support and in the passing game.
Memorial’s strongest position group on defense, however, is its linebacking corps of junior Dalton Keller (57 tackles), senior Adrian Garza (47 tackles, one INT) and senior Nico Lara (74 tackles, TFL). The trio will be leaned upon heavily to lead the Mustangs in 2024.
Memorial starts its season against Brownsville Hanna, Weslaco High and San Antonio Johnson in non-district action before opening 16-5A DI play on the road against Rio Grande City on Sept. 20. The Mustangs will also circle a few matchups on their calendar with a Week 7 matchup against McAllen High, Week 9 against Edinburg Vela and Week 10 against McAllen Rowe.
“It’s open season. We have a tough non-district schedule to get us ready for district,” Garza said. “I think going into district we’re going to be ready to play our hearts out and compete with every team.”
