VYPE DFW Football Game of the Week: North Crowley vs. Allen (6A-D1 Region 1 Final)
Everything has gone according to plan for North Crowley this Fall.
The Panthers are firing on all cylinders in every facet of the game, which has earned them the distinction of being ranked as the No. 2 team in Texas (No. 9 in the nation), according to MaxPreps.
Following yet another undefeated regular season -- and their third-consecutive district championship -- coach Ray Gates and co. have steam-rolled their way to the Regional Final, with wins against Byron Nelson (56-21), Permian (72-14), and Coppell (35-24) over the past three weeks.
Now, North Crowley (13-0) has the opportunity to make back-to-back appearances in the state final-four.
The connection between quarterback Chris Jimerson (North Texas-signee) and senior wideout Quentin Gibson (Colorado) has been virtually impossible for opposing secondaries to contain.
If the passing game isn't enough, Cornelius Warren III (UNLV) and Daniel Bray (Utah) are always a threat to score from out of the back-field, behind a formidable offensive line -- anchored by Henry Fenuku (Missouri) --that's allowed the unit to average a ridiculous 57 points per game.
Defensively, the Panthers have limited their opponents to just 17 points a contest, which is a testament to the equally capable athletes they have on that side of the ball -- Jonathan Cunningham (Texas), Ja'Brelle Asberry (Sr. MLB), Gaylon McNeal (Washington State), and sophomore Avery Dotson being chief among them.
NCHS was eliminated in the State Semis of last year's postseason, at the hands of eventual 6A-D1 champion Duncanville. Suffice it to say, they'd love to get the chance to return the favor a week from now.
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However, No. 7-ranked Allen won't just stand idly by and give up a spot in the final-four.
With coach Lee Wigington at the helm, the Eagles (13-0) haven't dropped a game this Fall, either -- most recently outlasting Trinity in a 22-21 nail-biter last Friday -- which advanced them to their first appearance in Round No. 4 since 2021.
The offense's aerial attack has been incredibly sufficient with 2023 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Brady Bricker behind-center, along with the various targets he has in the WR room -- Donnell Gee Jr. (Tulsa-signee), Carter Harris (Sr.), and freshman break-out player Josyah Johnson.
Furthermore, Allen possesses not one, not two, but three explosive running backs -- Jaden Hambric (Jr.), Micah Ellis (Sr.), and Lyndon Spriggs (So.) -- who can keep defenses honest.
But, it can be argued that the most valuable asset towards the Eagles' success in 2024 has been their lock-down defense, which is averaging a mere 11.3 points allowed per game.
Its leading figures include second-team, all-district selections Kai Wheaton (Sr. CB), Mitchell Neu (Sr. LB), and Camden Clark (Sr. S).
This is the best that Allen has looked in years. Can they punch their ticket to the State Final-Four, marking the first time since 2018 they've done so?
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The battle of the undefeated will take place this Saturday (2:00 PM) at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield, TX. The victor might just become a favorite to reach AT&T.