Kyler Murray led Allen to a Texas state title Friday, and a legitimate reason to be chosen as a national champion.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
For all of
Kyler Murray's attributes,
Allen (Texas) head coach Tom Westerberg most appreciates that as a junior, his quarterback will be around for another season.
Murray, the son of former Texas A&M quarterback Kevin Murray, threw four touchdowns and ran for another as Allen overwhelmed
Pearland (Texas) Saturday, 63-28, in the UIL Class 5A Division I state title game at AT&T Stadium.
Allen didn't earn its win without taking some shotsfrom Pearland.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Game attendance of 54,347 broke the state record of 49,953 set in 1977 in Plano's championship win over Port Neches-Groves. The record crowd witnessed Murray complete 11 of 14 passes for 280 yards and rush 13 times for 189 yards, the majority on scrambles. He was named the game's offensive MVP.
"The bigger the stage, the better Kyler plays,'' said his coach.
See more photos from the big game
The state title is Allen's second in succession -- both coming with Murray at the controls -- and third since 2008.
Allen (16-0), ranked No. 2 nationally in MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25, trailed by seven points on two occasions in the first half, but reeled off 28 consecutive points to take control by halftime.
Pearland (14-2) trailed by only 14 points at the break due in part to two rare Murray turnovers that led to Oilers touchdowns. The Allen quarterback had the football taken away at the Pearland goal line and returned 86 yards by
Justin Phillips, setting up
Zachary Boegler's 1-yard run for a 14-7 Pearland lead.
See the Qwixcore game log from this game
With Allen leading 35-14 in the final minutes of the first half, Murray's deep pass was intercepted by
Conner Chidester and returned 58 yards to the Allen 19. Boegler's 5-yard jump pass to
Hayden Cole cut the Allen lead to 35-21 at intermission.
Kyler Murray is only a junior, so he should be backnext year for another shot at a state title.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Pearland coach Tony Heath compared the first half to a roller coaster ride with all the ups and downs.
Westerberg said his team's ability to counter an opponent's momentum-gaining play with one of its own has been a constant all season.
When Allen fell behind 14-7, it was
Chad Adams who gave his team an immediate lift with an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Defensive adjustments by the Eagles limited Pearland to seven points in the second half. Allen sophomore
Jaylon Jones' end zone interception in the final two minutes of the third quarter was the back-breaker for the Oilers, who trailed 42-21 at the time.
The Eagles dominated statistically, out-gaining Pearland 670-279 in total yards.
Jalen Guyton and
Cole Carter each had a pair of touchdown catches for Allen and
Jaelen Barlow (18 carries, 134 yards) had a pair of scoring runs.
Cole led Pearland with 18 carries for 88 yards and quarterback
Connor Heath threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
"Give credit to Allen, they are a very special football team,'' said Tony Heath. "I was proud of our guys for playing hard the full 48 minutes.''
Pearland won in its only previous state final appearance, defeating the state's No. 1 ranked team, Trinity (Euless) in 2010.
As far as his team's national ranking, Westerberg said he'll let others worry about that. "But after the schedule we played,'' he offered, "I'll tell you I think we're the best.''
Aledo (Texas) 38, Brenham (Texas) 10The nation's highest-scoring 11-man high school football team had to wait to the midpoint of the second quarter for its first touchdown.
Stifled early by a Brenham defense that crowded the line of scrimmage, Aledo (16-0), No. 25 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, eventually burned the Cubs' strategy with big plays.
Junior quarterback
Luke Bishop threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 133 additional yards on the way to the offensive MVP award in the Class 4A Division II title game.
"For a 5-8 skinny kid, he's pretty darn good,'' Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said.
The Aledo defense, under the radar all season, kept Brenham (14-2) out of the end zone for 42 minutes with the help of two key linebacking plays.
Tyson Mauser snuffed a serious threat in the first quarter with a fumble recovery at the Aledo 5 and
Jordan Mittie, the defensive MVP, batted down a potential touchdown pass in the second quarter, forcing a Brenham field goal.
See the Qwixcore game log from this gameThe Bearcats became the first to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for a season on Bishop's 28-yard touchdown pass to
Ryan Newsome with 59 seconds remaining in the first half. Aledo finished with 1,023 points.
"Basically we loaded the box and when you do that you're going to give up some big plays,'' said Brenham coach Glen West. "We felt that was our best opportunity.''
The state title was Aledo's fifth under Buchanan and the fourth in five years.
In comparing his title teams, Buchanan said this team is similar to the 2010 club that also went undefeated, but he would give his current team the edge because of a better kicking game.
Quarterback
Caleb Hill threw for 216 yards for Brenham, including a 70-yard touchdown pass to
TreVonte Johnson.
Earnest Patterson, like Hill a junior, rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries.
Brenham lost top receiver
James Homan to a broken ankle in the first quarter.
