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Thursday, November 1, 2007
Can Allen Take Next Step?
Collin County, TX
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Highly ranked Eagles look to state for respect
Allen’s football team has had plenty of recognition this season.
After tough district wins over Plano Senior and Berkner, the Eagles have been ranked as high as No. 3 in the Associated Press state poll, and beaten three other top 15 opponents along the way. Allen’s regular season finale against Plano East has even been chosen to be broadcast live, Nov. 8, on Fox Sports Net.
But for many, the Eagles are still not viewed as one of the elite teams in the state. And that fact hasn’t escaped the notice of Allen players.
“We went far last year; we have been playing well this season and we always seem to have a target on our back,” said Clint Anderson, senior offensive lineman. “But for some reason we are still never picked to win the big games, and I don’t know why.”
This is head coach Tom Westerberg’s fourth season leading the Eagles, with the team advancing to the playoffs in each of the previous three campaigns. However, every one of those postseason runs was ended by Southlake Carroll, including last season’s 38-0 loss to the Dragons in the Class 5A Division I semifinals.
“After we lost to Southlake, everyone thought we weren’t ready to play in the big game,” said Dan Buckner, senior wide receiver. “Sure we beat everyone else, but to most people that didn’t matter.”
The semifinal trip matched the best finish in the program’s history. Allen also advanced to the final four in 2003 before losing to Carroll, 37-21. But while the Eagles’ season has ended four straight times with defeats against the Dragons, don’t say anything to them about a curse.
“Southlake hasn’t lost many games over the last five years,” Westerberg said. “So if we are cursed, then there are a lot of other programs that must be cursed too.”
But the string of losses to Southlake appears to have created the perception that Allen doesn’t belong in the top tier of the high school football hierarchy.
While the Eagles ascended to No. 3 in the state in October, they remained behind Katy, the last Texas team to beat Carroll, and the Dragons, who were defeated by Miami Northwestern during pre-district play.
“We’ve been underestimated like this before,” said Uzoma Nwachukwu, junior wide receiver. “And that’s fine, because we use that as fuel to drive us.”
Westerberg was less motivated by any perceived slights against his team, saying he didn’t really care what tier other people put them in.
Those opinions aside, it seems clear that the only way Allen will be considered one of the elite teams in the state is by winning a championship.
“Even if we get back to the semis this season, that’s not enough,” Buckner said. “Last year was last year, and we have a completely different team this season. We’ve gotta win state if we want everyone to consider us a top team, and that’s our motivation.”
If the Eagles are able to pull out a win Dec. 22 at the Alamodome, the top tier of Texas high school football teams may have to make room for a new member.
Headline: Southlake…Again?
Miami Northwestern ended Southlake Carroll’s 49-game win streak in a nationally televised intrastate showdown. Perhaps 2007 is the year Allen will end its own dubious streak against the Dragons.
Allen, unfortunately, has played a major role in Southlake Carroll’s threepeat state titles with the Dragons ending the Eagles’ season in each of the last four years (see chart).
Perhaps a little prime time television coverage will be just what the Eagles ordered. Fox Sports Net Southwest will televise the Allen-Plano East game, a regular-season finale that may determine the District 9-5A champion. The game has been rescheduled to Nov. 8 and moved to Plano’s John Clark Stadium.
Year Playoff Round Results
2003 5A Div. II Semifinals Southlake Carroll 37, Allen 21
2004 5A Div. II Area Southlake Carroll 52, Allen 14
2005 5A Div. II Area Southlake Carroll 45, Allen 15
2006 5A Div. I Semifinals Southlake Carroll 38, Allen 0
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