“We’ve played well so far this year, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Those were the words of senior offensive lineman Travis Sewell following last week’s homecoming win against Rowlett. The win boosted Allen’s record above .500 to 2-1, as they enjoy this week’s bye to prepare for their district opener against Plano (2-1).
The Wildcats enter district play coming off a bye week as well, but a sour taste stays fresh in their mouths following a 14-3 loss last week to Carter.
Allen’s win against Rowlett last week came as no surprise. The game was pretty much in hand the entire way, as quarterback Nathan Dick led the way for the Eagles.
It was another day at the office for Dick, as he threw for 273 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for more yards than any of his running backs, totaling 60 yards off nine carries, including a 21-yard touchdown scamper right before the half.
“It all seemed to come together last week,” Dick said. “I feel we looked sharp both offensively and defensively.”
Wide receiver Dan Buckner caught the only Eagle touchdown through the air while Matt Morrison and Zac McCullock each ran for a score in the first half. Morrison was Dick’s favorite target in the passing attack, as he had seven receptions for 113 yards.
A stingy Allen defense held Rowlett to just 10 points the entire night. Linebacker Chris Castro posted a sack for the second week in a row, and Allen’s secondary allowed just 168 yards through the air.
“We performed the best we have all year as a team,” defensive back Cody Gambill said. “That win gives us a lot of momentum heading into district play.”
Allen is certainly going to need that momentum as they go up against the Plano Wildcats next week, who routed the Eagles last year 45-7 at Eagle Stadium.
It was also the game where Dick suffered a broken ankle, which sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season.
“I feel I have something to prove,” Dick said when asked about the Plano game. “Just knowing how bad they beat us last year makes our team even more fired up for kickoff.”
Plano is known for a smash-mouth style of football on offense. The team does three things when trying to move the ball down the field: run, run, and run.
Plano senior quarterback Greg Harrell has rushed 51 times for just under 200 yards, including four touchdowns.
The down-side for Plano is they have virtually no passing game. Harrell has completed a total of seven passes this year for 77 yards.
“They run out of the ‘I’ and look to use the option as a weapon,” Gambill said. “We are going to make them throw the football. The run is going to be our main concern, and our corners are going to be left in man coverage. I’m confident they are going to get the job done.”
Despite the Eagles having the week off due to the bye, they don’t consider it time off.
“It’s a period of time for us to get better prepared for Plano,” Dick said. “It’s also a time for guys that are banged up to get in the training room and have an extra week’s rest to start off district.”
Gambill also sees it as a time to improve the mental side of the game.
No matter what either team decides to focus on this week, Allen against Plano is going to be a tight game.
A combination of the district opener, the atmosphere at Eagle Stadium, and a little sense of revenge for Eagle fans is sure to make this one a must-see for anyone who has the chance to attend.
“They beat us last year, and we want payback,” Dick said, “We just can’t wait for the kickoff.”
Source: Allen American Star
