Allen Gets Past Cedar Ridge

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 17, 2017

photos: Steve Thomas

Allen Eagles Return to State

Prior to the kickoff of Saturday’s UIL Class 6A Division I semifinal at McLane Stadium in Waco, the PA announcer proclaimed, “No state does high school football like Texas.” In few places is that more true than in Allen, Texas. Over the past decade, the Allen Eagles have become a juggernaut in Texas High School football. The Eagles won their first state championship in 2008 and then won three-straight in 2012, 2013, and 2014. For the past two seasons, however, the Eagles made deep playoff runs but stumbled in the semifinal round of the UIL 6A Division I playoffs. In 2015, the Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Austin Westlake in Waco; and last year, the Eagles came up short again against The Woodlands in Austin. Last week, the Eagles overran traditional powerhouse Euless Trinity to win the Region I championship advance back to the state semifinals.

Standing in the way of Allen’s return to the state championship were the Round Rock Cedar Ridge Raiders. After routing district rival Pflugerville Hendrickson to win their first-ever regional championship, the Raiders entered this looking to keep the historic run going and advance to their first-ever state championship game.

Despite some early offensive struggles, the Eagles took advantage of several Cedar Ridge miscues and scored two late touchdowns to seal a 28-7 victory. The first Cedar Ridge miscue came in the second quarter. Senior wide receiver Trey Williams fumbled the ball near the 43-yard line, and Allen senior defensive back TKai Lloyd returned the ball to the Cedar Ridge three-yard line. To make matters worse for the Raiders, senior quarterback Ezekiel Coss suffered an injury making the touchdown-saving tackle. On the next play, senior running back Brock Sturgis punched the ball across the goal line to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Two drives later, the Eagles recovered sophomore quarterback J.B. Brown’s fumble at the Raiders’ 36-yard line. The Cedar Ridge defense forced the Eagles backwards, but junior quarterback Grant Tisdale connected with junior wide receiver Theo Wease for a 31-yard touchdown on fourth and 21.

Late in the third quarter, Cedar Ridge senior defensive back Duvon Jones gave the Raiders new life when he recovered Allen senior defensive back Taj Bickham’s muffed punt return at the Eagles’ 44-yard line. Despite driving to the Allen 24-yard line, the Raiders turned the ball over on downs after coming up just short on fourth down and three. The Raiders’ defense kept the Eagles out of the end zone, but Taj Bickham intercepted J.B. Brown’s pass at the Eagles’ seven-yard line and returned it to their 47-yard line. As they had throughout the night, the Cedar Ridge defense kept the Raiders’ hopes alive by keeping Allen out of the end zone on the ensuing drive. The offense, however, only managed one yard of offense on the next drive, and J.B. Brown was called for intentional grounding on a desperation fake punt deep in the shadow of his own goal line. Brock Sturgis scored from two-yards out after the turnover to give Allen a 21-0 lead. Junior linebacker Luke Jaksick then put the game away with 30-yard pick six midway through the fourth quarter. J.B. Brown connected with junior wide receiver Jaylen Ellis for a 71-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter for the Raiders’ lone score of the night.

With the win, Allen improves to 15-0 on the year. The Eagles will face defending 6A Division I state champion Austin Lake Travis at 3:00 next Saturday at AT&T Stadium for the UIL 6A Division I championship. Cedar Ridge, meanwhile, finishes the season at 13-2.

by Steve Thomas