On Sunday, Jalen Hurts from Channelview High School traveled to Arizona to face Kyler Murray from Allen High School. It was Hurts second career start and the first showdown between the former Texas high school stars and former Oklahoma Sooners.
In his senior season at Channelview, Hurts threw for 2,384 yards with 26 touchdowns and ran for 1,391 yards and 25 touchdowns. Murray had the more storied career, perhaps the best career ever by a Texas high school quarterback. He won 3 straight state titles and was the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year. In his senior season, he threw for 4,713 yards and 54 touchdowns and ran for 1,495 yards and 25 touchdowns. Murray would get the better of Hurts in Sundays matchup too.
In a controversial move for the Philadelphia Eagles, Hurts got his second career start. He looked great. The Cardinals took a 16-0 first-quarter lead, but Hurts brought the Eagles back and cut the lead to 6 at halftime, 26-20. In the third quarter, he scored on a 7-yard run to tie the game, 26-26. However, midway through the fourth quarter, Murray hit DeAndra Hopkins for a 20-yard touchdown and a 33-26 lead that would be the final score.
Jalen Hurts finished with 338 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. He added 63 yards on the ground and another touchdown.
Kyler Murray threw for 402 yards and 3 touchdowns. He added 29 yards and another touchdown rushing.
Hurts will likely get the start the last two games of the season for the Eagles against Dallas and Washington. If the Eagles win both games, they’d have a chance to make the playoffs, but they need the Giants to lose a game and Washington to lose next week against the Panthers.
Murray has the Cardinals in playoff contention, currently holding the 7th seed in this year’s expanded playoff field. They are one game up on the Chicago Bears. If they win one of their last two games against the 49ers or the Rams, they should make the playoffs.
