MISSION — Mercedes’ Tyrell Treviño spent most of his time at receiver the past two seasons, racking up over 1,300 receiving yards. This season, the Tigers’ athlete has taken on a different role, lining up at running back for his team, a position he used to play his freshman year.
The transition from receiver to running back has been near seamless, with Treviño racking up over 500 yards and six touchdowns on the ground through Mercedes’ first four games.
The Tigers’ do-it-all athlete continued his dominant start to the season, rushing for four touchdowns as Mercedes steamrolled the Sharyland High Rattlers 48-17 on Thursday at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
“All the holes opened up thanks to the line up front,” Treviño said. “I was able to do our thing. Then as a team, we came and played on all cylinders and play Mercedes football. I like the new role. I used to play running back as a freshman. It’s kind of easy seeing the way things develop. If this is what’s best for the team, I’m a team player always. So, if this is going to help us come out with a victory then it is what I’m going to do.”
The Tigers racked up 493 yards on the ground, with four different rushers finding the end zone.
Treviño led the rushing attack, finishing with game-high 264 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. Running back Ethan Anciso chipped in 18 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown, while Jose Cisneros added seven carries for 80 yards and a score.
“We have a tremendous offensive line that loves to be physical,” Mercedes head coach Roger Adame said. “All those guys up front, they love to run the ball. Offensive line loves to run the football. We got guys that take pride in that Coach (Paul) Reyes does a great job with this offense. We have to take what they give us. We want to be a physical team. We made up our minds that we want to be physical and we came out there and did it tonight.”
Leading by just four points entering the half, the Tigers went to work during the second, scoring back-to-back touchdowns to take a 28-10 advantage early during the fourth.
An 18-yard touchdown run by Sharyland High receiver Alek Gonzalez made it 28-17 with 9:34 left, keeping the Rattlers’ comeback hopes alive.
Gonzalez finished with 10 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown, adding three completions in as many attempts for 23 yards and a score.
Following Gonzalez’s score, Treviño took matters into his own hands, scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach. The senior scored on runs of 79, 70 and 1 yards during the final period.
“Anytime we can get the ball in Tyrell’s hands, he’s an explosive player,” Mercedes head coach Roger Adame said. “He has the potential to go every time he touches it. We feel he’s a great receiver, but if we can get the ball directly in his hands at running back with the way our offensive line is playing, we have the potential for big plays like tonight. We’re excited and fortunate to have him. The way he works, he’s a competitor. He will never tell you himself. He always gives the credit to his offensive line but just a great performance by him tonight.”
The loss marks the fourth straight for the Rattlers, who dropped to 1-4 to end non-district play. Meanwhile, the Tigers score 47 points for a third straight week, wrapping up non-district play with a 2-3 mark.
“Offensively we just got to keep growing,” Treviño said. “We work hard every day at practice. We know that the defense is continuing to get better. We’re going to keep going and get better as a team. We’re going to enjoy this for sure, rest up and then we start district play already. We’re looking forward to it for sure.”
Both teams enter a district-wide bye week by their respective districts before returning to action with the start of district play Oct. 7
Sharyland High (1-4, 0-0) kicks off District 16-5A DII play against Roma (2-2, 0-0) at Gladiator Arena in Roma. Mercedes (2-3, 0-0) begins District 15-5A DII play against Valley View (0-4, 0-0) at Tiger Stadium in Hidalgo.
