Murray, Ward have a day of big plays to escape a third quarter tie
Arlington – For the second time on it’s state championship run, Allen have knocked off a nationally top ranked team. In 2008 on it’s way to it’s first title, Allen beat then top ranked Euless Trinity 34-21 in the Area round of the playoffs and this season, DeSoto in the semifinals, 51-36, Rivals 100 number 1 ranked team and Max Preps.
Senior running back Marcus Ward scored two late touchdowns to break open a third quarter tie and Sophomore quarterback Kyler Murray had a hand in three scoring drives to help the Allen Eagles bring home it’s second state crown, by defeating Lamar 35-21 in the 5A Division I Final Saturday night at Cowboy Stadium.
The victory marks the second time in school history that the Eagles (15-1) have won a football title. It’s first title was a result of defeating a Houston area team in Fort Bend Hightower, 21-14 in 2008.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. There a good team and we were kind of not quite settled at the beginning of it. We had the safety right off the bat but we kept hanging in there making plays, making plays and made a few mistakes in the first half and then we had to battle. In the second half we made some huge plays,” Allen coach Tom Wasterberg said.
For most of the night, Lamar (15-1) kept Ward quiet but nearing the end of the third quarter was the different. Allen begin a drive at the 16 yard line of Lamar, after a brilliant return by Carlos Arochi. Soon after, Ward’s one yard TD run gave Allen the lead for keeps. Ward’s later score covered 67-yards, all but ending of Lamar’s dream season.
“That play was called red bud. (The 67-yard insurance touchdown run)The guard pulls and you just follow him. I got the ball slow off the start and when you see the hole and the guard pulls and blocks his man, you just go off and it’s off to the races. (We called that play at that time because) We felt like, if we could get bodies on bodies and throw the defense off a little, that we could get a big play,” said Allen’s RB Marcus Ward.
Murray’s early scoring runs of 55 and 68 set the tone early and gave Allen a 14-2 lead. In the pocket scanning the field for an open receiver, Murray tucked the ball and out-ran the Redskins’ defense to the end zone after seeing his receivers covered down field. His final score, a one-play, 68-yard touchdown run held for the moment.
Lamar led 2-0 on the strength of a safety when Eagle’s deep snapper sent the ball over punter Cameron Hartsfeld’s head.
“We’ve been down before (speaking about Lamar’s early safety) it wasn’t nothing to worry about. We’ve faced adversity many times this year,” says Allen quarterback Kyler Murray, the son of former Texas A&M quarterback Jeff Murray.
For the Redskins, who’s the first HISD school to advance to the state title game since Yates in ’92, trimmed the lead with a possession that started at the end of the first quarter and carried over into the second.
Even with the loss, the Redskins did something unexpected while finishing out one of the best season’s ever.
A balanced attack moved the ball to the Allen 41 before junior quarterback Darrell Colbert was flushed out of the pocket, finding fullback Cory Mitchell who had 4-receptions for 77 yards, on the catch and run to the end zone. That made the score 14-8 following extra point kick.
Colbert led Lamar with 146 yards rushing on 19 carries, 2-TDs and passed for 207 yards on 15-of-35 an a TD.
Many chances passed the Redskins, including penalties, five turnovers, four which were a result of not able to convert on fourth down. All were keys to it’s downfall.
Allen took advantage of a fumble return to the Lamar eight yard line to increase its lead, 21-8 when Murray spotted receiver Cole Carter 12-yards out in the end zone.
“We ran that play (the TD pass that got underneath Lamar’s safety, but was caught for a the score) in the DeSoto game and worked and I saw the safety come down and Murray knew I was out there,” says Allen’s receiver Cole Carter.
“We didn’t know a lot coming from Houston. We just tried to execute our game plan and that’s what we did. There a discipline team and there not going to give up the big play. You have to come out and be physical with them and take what they give you,” Allen’s receiver Cole Carter said.
Lamar never out of touch staged another scoring drive to enter the locker room trailing 21-14.
A couple of drives stalled before the before Colbert tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Beau Wells, tying the game at 21, bringing the Redskin fans to it’s feet.
“When Lamar tied the game, we were thinking this it, if they go down and score again. We were thinking about making a big play and finished the game. There defense is good,” says Ward.
“Anytime you get to this point coming out of the Metroplex and you have to go through a great DeSoto team, a great Skyline team and a great Mesquite team,” says Wasterberg. If you can run that roller coaster and get through that whole thing, you’re going to be pretty good when you get to this point. They have a great football team. Coach Nolen does a great job.”
It didn’t last long as Arochi took the ensuing kickoff from the 4 down to the Lamar 16 yard line.
