For the top-ranked Allen Eagles, the opening round was anything but routine. A program many picked to reach or win the state championship found itself trailing 15–14 early in the fourth quarter before clawing back for a 22–15 win over Lewisville. It was the kind of nail-biter that reminds favorites they will have to earn every inch in November.
Allen’s offense finally broke through in the second quarter. Quarterback Jeremiah Daoud capped a 16-play march with an 11-yard touchdown to Josyah Johnson, then kept it himself from six yards for a 14–0 lead. Lewisville answered with a late field goal to make it 14–3 at halftime, keeping the pressure on a team that had won nine of its ten regular-season games by double digits.
The Farmers refused to fade. Midway through the third, Derrick Martin hit Xavier Fleming for a three-yard score to pull within 14–9. Early in the fourth, Lewisville flipped momentum after an interception, and Tre Williams found Traejan Mueller from 21 yards to take a 15–14 lead. In a game that had been defensive for long stretches, the underdog suddenly had a real shot.
Allen’s response defined the night. The Eagles pieced together a 16-play, 77-yard drive, converting key third downs and leaning on the ground game. Running back Lyndon Spriggs finished it with a four-yard touchdown, and a successful two-point pass from Caleb Smith to Carter Harris pushed the cushion to 22–15 with 3:54 left. When Lewisville mounted a last push, the Allen defense answered as senior Josh Shaw delivered a strip sack and Trey Roberson pounced on the fumble with just over a minute remaining.
By the final whistle, Allen had outgained Lewisville 383–240 and held the Farmers to one net rushing yard. Daoud went 25-of-37 for 240 yards with a touchdown and a rushing score, Spriggs added 70 rushing yards, and Carter Harris posted 122 receiving yards. The Eagles move to 11–0 and advance to the area round to face the Lake Highlands–South Grand Prairie winner. For Lewisville, an 8–3 season ends after a fearless challenge that pushed a favorite deep into the fourth quarter.
Photos by Das Mitchell
