No. 1 Allen Comes From Behind Against Flower Mound Marcus
The battle of the unbeatens lived up to it’s billing Friday night when the top-ranked Allen Eagles traveled to Marauder Stadium to take on Flower Mound Marcus. With both teams at 7-0, and 4-0 in district 8-A play, much was at stake.
Marcus began the game determined to show the Eagles they were in for a fight. Forcing the potent Allen offense to punt on the opening possession, Marcus had the sell-out crowd in a frenzy. On their first play from scrimmage, Marcus sent Deion Sanders, Jr. on an end-around run good for 58 yards. Harvey Giddens took the ball the remaining 10 yards on the very next play to put Marcus up 7-0.
After a failed onside kick gave Allen the ball on a short field, the Marcus defense held again, forcing another punt. This time, the Marauder offense sputtered and was also forced to punt.
The Allen offense finally got on track, mounting a 6-play, 52 yard drive capped by quarterback Alec Morris running for a 6 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
Marcus mounted an 80 yard drive of it’s own, capped by Jeff Smiley punching the ball in from 10 yards out to regain the lead, 14-7.
On their next drive, Allen converted on a 4th and 1 as part of an 11 play drive culminating in a Morris to Jonathan Williams touchdown reception from 18 yards out. Allen then recovers a muffed short kick to get the ball back on the Marcus 29 yard line. After converting another 4th down, Allen’s drive was ended by an interception.
The Marauders capitalized on the turnover, taking the ball 93 yards in 11 plays to regain the lead 21-14 after another Jeff Smiley touchdown, this one from 31 yards out.
Allen wasted no time to tie the game again, with Morris connecting with Andrew Rodriguez for a 79-yard touchdown. Marcus then used 6 running plays to set up a Cole Erwin touchdown pass to Kyle Matheson. Marcus took a 28-21 lead into halftime.
The third quarter was all Eagles, as the Marauders offensive possessions resulted in 2 punts and an interception. In the meantime, the Allen passing attack was switching to high gear. Morris connected with Rodriguez for another long touchdown, 60 yards, to tie the game at 28-28.
Allen took the lead for the first time in the game on a 34-yard field goal by Carlos Arochi. Allen 31 – Marcus 28 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Marcus opened the 4th quarter with a drive that ended at the Allen 18 yard line when running back Harvey Giddens failed to convert on a 4th and 2. This time the Marcus defense held and Allen was forced to punt again.
With time running out, Marcus drove 81 yards to score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:40 left on the clock. Deion Sanders Jr. opened this drive with another end-around run, this one good for 30 yards. Six plays later, Jeff Smiley scores his 3rd touchdown of the game on a 26-yard run.
Down 35-31, the Allen offense used 9 plays to drive 80 yards. After converting another 4th and 1, Morris threw to Oliver Pierce for the game-winning 16-yard touchdown with :08 left on the clock.
Unable to connect on a last chance pass, Marcus falls in a heartbreaker 38-35.
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