In the State Championship Semi-Final, the Allen Eagles took on the Austin Westlake Chaparrals.  

Junior quarterback and University of Texas commit Sam Ehlinger led the Chaparrals down inside the redzone thanks in part to a 36-yard pass on third down. They wouldn’t be able to convert that into a touchdown and would be forced to kick a field goal to go up 3-0 with eight minutes left to play in the first quarter.

Lionell McConnell would return the kick-off to beyond the 50-yard line for the Eagles, but it wouldn’t be enough spark for the offense and after Mitchell Jonke was sacked on third down, Camden Harrison would be brought out to punt.

Westlake would punt it right back to the Eagles and give them good field position with six minutes left to play, but Allen would be forced to punt it right back to the Chaparrals and pin them deep inside their own territory.

Allen was in the negatives as far as their offensive yardage in the first quarter, due in part to sacks on Jonke, and running back Kirby Bennett not being able to find his groove and getting stuffed or taken down for a loss numerous times.

“We didn’t play our best game tonight” head coach Tom Westerberg. “We didn’t make the plays we had all year long.”

Green would come in with 3 minutes left in the first and he would have just about as much success as Jonke would, and Allen would have its third straight three and out. Allen was unable to slow down UT commit Ehlinger and he would run for 68 yards in the first half.

The ball would go back and forth and Allen would change QB’s another time. With seven minutes left to play in the half Allen would make its first of fatal mistakes. A shanked punt would put the Chaparrals on the Eagle’s 20-yard line and they would convert with a touchdown to go up 16-0 with six minutes left in the half. Allen had not been shut out in the first half all year, but that would be the score as they headed back to the locker room at halftime.

The second half would start much like the entire first half; not good. After a fumble by Camden Harrison that Westlake took back to the Allen’s 47-yard line. Westlake would again convert on the turnover and go up 23-0 within the first minute of the half. Allen would march down the field, with Jonke taking a huge hit, but completing a first down to keep the drive alive. Jonke would get his team to the red zone for the first time of the day, but the field goal unit would come on for Allen. Connor Limperts field goal would be blocked, and Allen would get nothing out of the drive.

With 5 minutes left in game, Green would connect to Harrison for a touchdown and put some life into the Eagles.

Westlake drove down the field, and after getting to the red zone it looked like the Chaparrals would close the game out. Until Ole Miss commit Jaylon Jones intercepted the ball in the endzone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a chance only down 23-17.

“[We] never quit” defensive coordinator Cory Cain said of the play.

It was going to be too little too late for the Eagles after they couldn’t recover for the onside kick.

The game came down to a few plays. A few bad series. A few penalties. Even though the game eventually got close, Westlake seemed in control the majority of the game.

“They outplayed us on a few series” Cain said. “They made some big plays and we missed out on some big plays and that’s just part of it. Those big plays are the difference in the game.”

Allen was 11 for 32 on passing attempts and only rushed for 128 yards due in part to lead rusher Kirby Bennett injured in the third quarter.

Despite things looking bleak for Allen the stands were chalk full with fans until the very end.

“Our community is unlike no other” Cain said.

High school football is different in Allen. It showed tonight, when nothing seemed to go right for the offense. The fans continued to cheer all the way to the very end, and the chant “A-Up” could be heard until the clock hit zero. All good things come to an end, and in this case it was done in the best way possible; with the fans all around cheering despite whatever happens. Westlake will play the winner of Northshore and Judson in the NRG Stadium for the State Finals.